Opal Loretta Bartlett

Opal L. Hicks Wilkerson Bartlett, 93 of Devils Lake, ND went to her Heavenly Home on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 to meet her Lord and Savior and her many family members who preceded her in death. Mass of Christian Burial for Opal will be held on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Robert Pecotte will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Catholic Daughters. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Music will be provided by JoDee Lagein, Peter A. Hager and Louis Martin The VFW Auxiliary will provide an Honor Guard for Opal and Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Opal’s Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren. Reading the Scriptures will be members of the Rovenko Family. Gift Bearers will be Opal’s children, Thelma, Eileen, Judy and Tim. Opal Loretta Hicks was born on November 9, 1912 at Cando, ND to Albert and Ilah (Johnson) Hicks. The family moved to Lawton, ND where she attended Newberry School and they then moved back to Cando where she attended high school. Opal was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, serving as a Gold Star Mother since 1951. She was a faithful member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, a devoted member of Catholic Daughters, President of St. Valentine’s Altar Society, and volunteered many hours at the Senior Center in Devils Lake. Opal was always a very community oriented and civic minded citizen, always very proud of personally canvassing the entire city on foot to obtain signatures for a petition for the elementary schools in Devils Lake. She also served as a precinct committee person for the Democratic Party, which she enjoyed greatly. She also served as a President of the PTA at Lincoln School and served as a Girl Scout Leader. She worked as a foster grandparent until illness forced her to retire at the age of 87. For the past four years, Opal has made her home at the Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Opal was very proud of being mother to 14 children and 1 foster son, 36 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren and 19 great great grandchildren for a grand total of 133 direct descendents. Survivors include daughters: Thelma (Louis) Martin of Grand Forks Eileen (Jerry) Frith of Devils Lake Judy (Frank) Elgaen of Edmonds, Washington Bonnie (Jack) Ableman of Renton, Washington Son: Tim Bartlett of Devils Lake Foster Son: Chub (Darlene) Skar of Fargo Son-In-Law: Don Held, Mukilteo, Washington Daughter-In-Law: Inez Bartlett, Snoqualmie, Washington Niece: Cindy Kraig Nephews: Harold Henderson and Mike Armstrong She was preceded in death by her three husbands; parents; brothers, Howard Hicks and Harold Hicks; sisters, Violet (Inglis) Henderson, Thelma Hicks and Doris (Pete) Armstrong; sons, Jack Wilkerson, Chuck Wilkerson, Raymond Bartlett, Jr, Eugene Bartlett, Richard Bartlett and Mickey Bartlett; daughters, Donna Held, Cheryl Lynn Bartlett and Carol Lynette Bartlett; daughter-in-law, Chiyoko Wilkerson; grandson, Bob Martin; granddaughter, Denise Frith Roberts and great granddaughter, Kendra Held.