Rev. opal (sic) Leona Crounse, daughter of Otto Johannes and Mary Elizabeth Bates Eden was born January 19, 1912 at Beatrice, NE, and passed away March 27, 1996 at the Republic County Long Term Care in Belleville, KS, at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 8 days.
She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1929 and St. Paul School of Theology, Course of Study, in 1971.
Opal was united in marriage to Norman Crounse on June 12, 1929 at her parent's home in Lincoln, NE. She worked beside her husband all their married life. They owned a cleaning plant in Lincoln, sold it in 1942 and went to the Sandhills and worked for Essie Davis on the OLO Ranch, moved back to Nebraska and farmed until 1946 when Norman entered the ministry. Opal worked for the county engineer and was county relief director for York County from 1947-1950.
When Norman graduated from York College in 1950 they moved to Kit Carson, CO, where Norman served the church there and attended Iliff School of Theology. In 1951 the couple moved back to Fairfield, NE, where Norman served the church their (sic) until 1955. He enrolled in Central Lutheran Theological Seminary in Fremont, NE, in 1953 and graduated with a masters degree in theology in 1956. During this time Opal worked for a car dealership in Fremont and finally for Francis Orshek Construction Co. as bookkeeper.
In 1955 they moved to Craig, NE, and served the Craig-Alder Grove Churches, from there to Omaha Ames Avenue, Fullerton, and Rising City where they served Rising City and Shelby Churches. It was in 1967 when the Methodist Church and the United Brethren Churches joined together and the put the Shelby Church and the United Brethren Church together, that Opal went into the ministry herself.
Rising City, Ulysses and Surprise were made into one charge, but the district superintendent said three churches were too much for one minister, so Opal said she could handle the Surprise Church. She started in the course of study, taking the first and last year by correspondence while preaching and then went to St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City for three years to summer school. She was ordained a deacon in the Nebraska Conference in 1970 and received her associate membership in the conference in 1977, the year she retired. They served the Chester and Hubbell United Methodist Churches from 1971 to 1977. When the couple retired they continued to live in Chester.
Opal was a member of the United Methodist Conference of United Methodist Church and was a member of Hebron Order of Eastern Star #31, Hebron, NE.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Mary and husband, Norman Crounse.
She is survived by one sister-in-law, Dorothy Neufeld; one aunt, Blanche Sutton, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 1996, at the United Methodist Church, Chester, conducted by Rev. T.J. Fraser. Mrs. Jack Long and Mrs. Wilbert Crouse provided the music. Organist was Mrs. Dolan Frye. Casket bearers were Ronnie Mumm, Elmer Holmes, Jeff Naysmith, John Eickman, Max Larkins and Williams Mumm. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m., Saturday, at the Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Lincoln, NE.
She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1929 and St. Paul School of Theology, Course of Study, in 1971.
Opal was united in marriage to Norman Crounse on June 12, 1929 at her parent's home in Lincoln, NE. She worked beside her husband all their married life. They owned a cleaning plant in Lincoln, sold it in 1942 and went to the Sandhills and worked for Essie Davis on the OLO Ranch, moved back to Nebraska and farmed until 1946 when Norman entered the ministry. Opal worked for the county engineer and was county relief director for York County from 1947-1950.
When Norman graduated from York College in 1950 they moved to Kit Carson, CO, where Norman served the church there and attended Iliff School of Theology. In 1951 the couple moved back to Fairfield, NE, where Norman served the church their (sic) until 1955. He enrolled in Central Lutheran Theological Seminary in Fremont, NE, in 1953 and graduated with a masters degree in theology in 1956. During this time Opal worked for a car dealership in Fremont and finally for Francis Orshek Construction Co. as bookkeeper.
In 1955 they moved to Craig, NE, and served the Craig-Alder Grove Churches, from there to Omaha Ames Avenue, Fullerton, and Rising City where they served Rising City and Shelby Churches. It was in 1967 when the Methodist Church and the United Brethren Churches joined together and the put the Shelby Church and the United Brethren Church together, that Opal went into the ministry herself.
Rising City, Ulysses and Surprise were made into one charge, but the district superintendent said three churches were too much for one minister, so Opal said she could handle the Surprise Church. She started in the course of study, taking the first and last year by correspondence while preaching and then went to St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City for three years to summer school. She was ordained a deacon in the Nebraska Conference in 1970 and received her associate membership in the conference in 1977, the year she retired. They served the Chester and Hubbell United Methodist Churches from 1971 to 1977. When the couple retired they continued to live in Chester.
Opal was a member of the United Methodist Conference of United Methodist Church and was a member of Hebron Order of Eastern Star #31, Hebron, NE.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Mary and husband, Norman Crounse.
She is survived by one sister-in-law, Dorothy Neufeld; one aunt, Blanche Sutton, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 1996, at the United Methodist Church, Chester, conducted by Rev. T.J. Fraser. Mrs. Jack Long and Mrs. Wilbert Crouse provided the music. Organist was Mrs. Dolan Frye. Casket bearers were Ronnie Mumm, Elmer Holmes, Jeff Naysmith, John Eickman, Max Larkins and Williams Mumm. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m., Saturday, at the Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Lincoln, NE.
Rev. opal (sic) Leona Crounse, daughter of Otto Johannes and Mary Elizabeth Bates Eden was born January 19, 1912 at Beatrice, NE, and passed away March 27, 1996 at the Republic County Long Term Care in Belleville, KS, at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 8 days.
She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1929 and St. Paul School of Theology, Course of Study, in 1971.
Opal was united in marriage to Norman Crounse on June 12, 1929 at her parent's home in Lincoln, NE. She worked beside her husband all their married life. They owned a cleaning plant in Lincoln, sold it in 1942 and went to the Sandhills and worked for Essie Davis on the OLO Ranch, moved back to Nebraska and farmed until 1946 when Norman entered the ministry. Opal worked for the county engineer and was county relief director for York County from 1947-1950.
When Norman graduated from York College in 1950 they moved to Kit Carson, CO, where Norman served the church there and attended Iliff School of Theology. In 1951 the couple moved back to Fairfield, NE, where Norman served the church their (sic) until 1955. He enrolled in Central Lutheran Theological Seminary in Fremont, NE, in 1953 and graduated with a masters degree in theology in 1956. During this time Opal worked for a car dealership in Fremont and finally for Francis Orshek Construction Co. as bookkeeper.
In 1955 they moved to Craig, NE, and served the Craig-Alder Grove Churches, from there to Omaha Ames Avenue, Fullerton, and Rising City where they served Rising City and Shelby Churches. It was in 1967 when the Methodist Church and the United Brethren Churches joined together and the put the Shelby Church and the United Brethren Church together, that Opal went into the ministry herself.
Rising City, Ulysses and Surprise were made into one charge, but the district superintendent said three churches were too much for one minister, so Opal said she could handle the Surprise Church. She started in the course of study, taking the first and last year by correspondence while preaching and then went to St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City for three years to summer school. She was ordained a deacon in the Nebraska Conference in 1970 and received her associate membership in the conference in 1977, the year she retired. They served the Chester and Hubbell United Methodist Churches from 1971 to 1977. When the couple retired they continued to live in Chester.
Opal was a member of the United Methodist Conference of United Methodist Church and was a member of Hebron Order of Eastern Star #31, Hebron, NE.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Mary and husband, Norman Crounse.
She is survived by one sister-in-law, Dorothy Neufeld; one aunt, Blanche Sutton, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 1996, at the United Methodist Church, Chester, conducted by Rev. T.J. Fraser. Mrs. Jack Long and Mrs. Wilbert Crouse provided the music. Organist was Mrs. Dolan Frye. Casket bearers were Ronnie Mumm, Elmer Holmes, Jeff Naysmith, John Eickman, Max Larkins and Williams Mumm. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m., Saturday, at the Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Lincoln, NE.
She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1929 and St. Paul School of Theology, Course of Study, in 1971.
Opal was united in marriage to Norman Crounse on June 12, 1929 at her parent's home in Lincoln, NE. She worked beside her husband all their married life. They owned a cleaning plant in Lincoln, sold it in 1942 and went to the Sandhills and worked for Essie Davis on the OLO Ranch, moved back to Nebraska and farmed until 1946 when Norman entered the ministry. Opal worked for the county engineer and was county relief director for York County from 1947-1950.
When Norman graduated from York College in 1950 they moved to Kit Carson, CO, where Norman served the church there and attended Iliff School of Theology. In 1951 the couple moved back to Fairfield, NE, where Norman served the church their (sic) until 1955. He enrolled in Central Lutheran Theological Seminary in Fremont, NE, in 1953 and graduated with a masters degree in theology in 1956. During this time Opal worked for a car dealership in Fremont and finally for Francis Orshek Construction Co. as bookkeeper.
In 1955 they moved to Craig, NE, and served the Craig-Alder Grove Churches, from there to Omaha Ames Avenue, Fullerton, and Rising City where they served Rising City and Shelby Churches. It was in 1967 when the Methodist Church and the United Brethren Churches joined together and the put the Shelby Church and the United Brethren Church together, that Opal went into the ministry herself.
Rising City, Ulysses and Surprise were made into one charge, but the district superintendent said three churches were too much for one minister, so Opal said she could handle the Surprise Church. She started in the course of study, taking the first and last year by correspondence while preaching and then went to St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City for three years to summer school. She was ordained a deacon in the Nebraska Conference in 1970 and received her associate membership in the conference in 1977, the year she retired. They served the Chester and Hubbell United Methodist Churches from 1971 to 1977. When the couple retired they continued to live in Chester.
Opal was a member of the United Methodist Conference of United Methodist Church and was a member of Hebron Order of Eastern Star #31, Hebron, NE.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Mary and husband, Norman Crounse.
She is survived by one sister-in-law, Dorothy Neufeld; one aunt, Blanche Sutton, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 1996, at the United Methodist Church, Chester, conducted by Rev. T.J. Fraser. Mrs. Jack Long and Mrs. Wilbert Crouse provided the music. Organist was Mrs. Dolan Frye. Casket bearers were Ronnie Mumm, Elmer Holmes, Jeff Naysmith, John Eickman, Max Larkins and Williams Mumm. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m., Saturday, at the Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Lincoln, NE.
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