Opal M. Magnuson, 87, resident of Lexington and Dawson County most of her life, died Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral Services will be Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington with Mr. Mike Millican officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.

Visitation will be held Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, from 3-5 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.

Survivors include one sister Nona (Bob) Heyen of Seward and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews. Opal was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald in 1999; three sisters and four brothers-in-law.

She was born Dec. 24, 1921, at Maxwell to Arthur Carl and Orpha Opal (Cantrell) Lake.  Opal moved to Dawson County when she was about five years of age. She graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1940. She worked at Reutlinger's five and dime store and Lexington Mill and Elevator Company. She married Gerald Magnuson Sept. 5, 1943, at Key West, Fla., and worked at the PX there.

In 1944, she started working in the Dawson County Clerk's office as a clerk and then Deputy Clerk and elected County Clerk in 1967. Opal served as County Clerk until 1987, when she retired.  Opal was a member of Northside Church of Christ, baptized March 3, 1993. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors and a few card clubs. She was president of the Clerk's Register of Deeds and Election Commissioners of Nebraska Association of County Officials in 1981.

Opal moved to Shackley Retirement Village several years ago and so enjoyed playing Chicken Foot Dominoes, cards, doing crafts with seashells and gardening. She also loved visiting with her neighbors, being with friends and shopping.   Memorials are suggested to the Northside Church of Christ or the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home of Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to:  reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.