Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272305
Title: Bruce A. Opsta
Date: 7/29/1949-9/20/2026
Inscription/Marks: 7/29/1949
Summary: Bruce A. Opsta, 77, of Bismarck, ND, passed away on September 20, 2026. A graveside service was held September 28, 2026, at Schafer Cemetery, in Watford City, ND, with Minister Sherri Heser officiating. Bruce Arnold Opsta was born on July 29, 1949, to Helmer and Alma (Miner) Opsta. He attended school in New Town and Watford City, and graduated from Watford City High School in 1967. On June 14, 1968, Bruce married Lila Faulkner. Together they lived in Gillette, WY, Brighton, CO, and Vernal, UT, before returning to Watford City in 1975. After Lila passed away in 1981, Bruce remained in Watford City, working in the oilfield and raising their three children. He moved to Williston in 1990, where he worked for Petroleum Experience as a workover rig consultant until retiring in 2015. That year, he moved to Bismarck, where he had built a home during the Bakken oil boom. Bruce enjoyed fishing, golfing, building and flying radio-controlled airplanes, riding his Harley, and collecting and playing guitars. In the 1990s, he earned his pilot’s license and owned a Cessna 182. Above all, he treasured spending time with his children and grandchildren. Bruce is survived by his daughters, Cari Opsta of Watford City and Sharon Opsta of Henderson, NV; his son, Darrin (Nina) Opsta of Williston, ND; his granddaughter, Kinsley; his grandson, Oliver; and his sister, Sandi (Mike) Ranum of Bismarck; along with several nephews and nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lila Opsta; his parents, Helmer and Alma Opsta; his sister, Audrey Lee; his brother, Dennis Opsta; and his in-laws, Bill and Millie Faulkner.
Red ID: FND_I_79797

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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