Avis L. Opheim

Avis Leone Opheim, 82, of Sioux City, Iowa, died on Friday, November 21, 2014, from ALS. The family will hold a Celebration of Life service at Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, 5200 Glenn Avenue, at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 24, 2014. Visitation will be after 10 AM, Monday at the church. Pastor David Halaas will officiate. DeeEtta Riley will be the organist. Avis was born on February 5, 1932, to Arthur and Gunda (Huseth)Walwick in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She attended high school in Elbow Lake, MN, and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where she met her husband, Vernon. They were married on April 2, 1955. Vernon's academic career in choral music took them to Urbana, Illinois, Orono, Maine, and Duluth, MN. She worked as a courtroom clerk for over twenty-five years in the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth. In their retirement, Avis and Vernon moved to Tucson, Arizona and ran an international music tour company, leading tours throughout the world. After her husband's death, she moved to Sioux City to be closer to family. Avis is survived by three daughters, Kathryn Opheim (Terry Feenstra); Mayme Barber (Tom); and Kara Mai Nevin (David). They have seven grandchildren: Abbey, Meredith and Annie Feenstra; Breanna and Neil Barber; and Romee and Kelsey Nevin. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Gerald Walwick, and her husband. Memorial donation may be directed to the ALS Foundation. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.