Opal Marie Mertens, 86, of Staples, died Feb. 21, 2010 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 10:00 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples. Visitation will be Friday 5 to 7 p.m., with a Rosary and prayer service at 6:30 p.m., and one hour prior to the service at the Brenny Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples.

Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.

Opal was born April 29, 1923, in Ward Township, Todd County to Roy and Clara (Olson) Stave. She grew up on the family farm and attended country school. In May of 1940, Opal went to work in Staples for Worlies, Drakes and Kilbury’s. In June of 1941 she went to Sleepy Eye, to work at the corn cannery. On Nov. 26, 1941, she married Clarence Mertens at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, by Father Donnay. Following their wedding they went to work in the mines at Colerain until Clarence was called into the U.S. Army. They settled in Staples in 1945, where she was a helpmate, mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother. From 1964 - 1980, Opal and Clarence were licensed auctioneers. Opal was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Foresters and Church Circle. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, fishing, traveling and raising flowers.

Opal is survived by her husband of 68 years; four sons, Gary (Dorothy) Mertens; Dale (Evelyn) Mertens; Clyde (Debra) Mertens; Jerry (Janet) Mertens; two daughters, Linda (Frank) Haisman; Anita (Darrell) Hove; one daughter-in-law, Marilyn Mertens; 20 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; one great great-grandchild; three sisters, Pearl (Matt) Hoemberg; DeLona (Edward) Hoemberg; Shirley (Martin) Duis; five brothers, Kessell (Barbara) Stave; Ronald (Sharon) Stave; Royce (Beverly) Stave; Darrell (Connie) Stave; three in-laws, Delores Stave, Dale Canfield and Marvin May; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Roger; one greatgrandson; two brothers, Russell, Gerald; two sisters, Carol, Ruby; and sister-inlaw, Lorraine Stave.

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