Opal Marjorie (Manecke) Helberg
September 2, 1920 — December 23, 2016
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Memorial Service
Graveside Service
Glenwood Cemetery
Opal Marjorie (Manecke) Helberg
Opal Marjorie (Manecke) Helberg, 96 of North Mankato, died Friday, December 23, 2016 at the J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park.
Memorial service will be held at 11am, Friday, December 30, 2016 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (720 S. 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001) with visitation one hour prior. Following the service, a luncheon will be served at church. Burial will take place at Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato. Please share a memory of Opal with her family and view her video tribute online at www.mankatomortuary.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be given to the library at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato.
Opal was born in her family’s country home in Faribault County on September 2, 1920. Her father, Burt Iverson, was a farmer and her mother, Anna (Loen) Iverson was a homemaker. She attended country school in Faribault County and graduated from Bricelyn High School in 1937. After high school, she worked in a doctor’s office to earn money to attend the University of Minnesota to obtain a registered nursing degree, which she received in 1945. The last six months of her schooling were spent working as a cadet nurse at the Naval Hospital in Seattle, WA during WWII.
She married Lester Manecke, a pharmacist in Bricelyn, on November 4, 1945. They began their life together in Bricelyn and later moved to Mankato in 1956. Lester purchased a pharmacy, and Opal worked in various departments at the hospital in Mankato from 1957 until 1985, spending most time in pediatrics. Lester passed away at the age of 57 in 1968. She married Maynard Helberg on November 11, 1978. Maynard died in 2005.
Opal moved to Oak Terrace Senior Living in 2008. She was a very faithful member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church for 45 years and was active with the Lydia Circle. She was an avid bridge player and also spent time volunteering with those learning English as a second language, Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, the thrift shop, and Sons of Norway.
She is survived by her children, Deborah (Lee) Natvig of Greenwood, SC, Kristin (Gary) Johnson of New Brighton, MN, and James (Lori) Manecke of Shoreview, MN; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Lester Manecke; second husband, Maynard Helberg; son, John Manecke; brothers, Byron Iverson and Clifford Narveson; and sister, Delores Glogau.
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, December 30, 2016
10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Memorial Service
Friday, December 30, 2016
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
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