Parnell Oppegaard

Parnell Oppegaard, age 87, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Monday (December 31st) at his home in McIntosh. Memorial services will be held on at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday (January 5th) at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine, MN with the Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine. Friends may call for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine. Family condolences may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com.Parnell was born on November 6, 1920 in rural McIntosh to parents Hans and Berget (Knutson) Oppegaard. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church where he remained a life-long member. He attended school at the Oppegaard Country School and he graduated from McIntosh High School in 1940. Parnell was united in marriage to DeLaine Rolf on April 5, 1952, and to this union four children were born.He farmed for a living, raising cattle in his earlier years and later growing Christmas trees and was an inventor of many things. His most notable invention was the first rotary snowplow, produced at Erskine Manufacturing. Parnell and DeLaine purchased the family farm in 1963 and it was designated a Century Farm in 1999. Parnell and DeLaine enjoyed traveling and were able to visit 35 states. In December of 2000, they moved into town where Parnell found another hobby in flower-gardening.He is survived by his wife of 55 years and their children Linda DeNell and Larry Oppegaard, both of McIntosh; Julie (Mike) Miller of Oxnard, CA; and Curtis (Vicki) Oppegaard of Sydney, Australia; and three grandsons, Jeremy of Savage, MN; Brandon of Cloquet, MN; and Justin of Oxnard, CA.He was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings Maria Stordahl and two sets of infant twins, and grandson Jason Raisanen.May God bless Parnell's memory.