PIERRE, SD – Opal Jeanette (Stager) Tousley peacefully passed away on Friday, January 12th, 2024. Visitation will be from 6:00pm until 7:00pm on Thursday, January18, 2024 at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre. Funeral services will be at 11:00am on Friday, January 19, 2024 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre. Burial will be at 2:30pm MST on Monday, January 22, 2024 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Click Here To View Opal’s Funeral Service

Opal was born in Long Beach, CA on December 27th, 1928, to Otto Stager and Kathryn (Bierman) Stager. She was the only child, as Kathryn suffered multiple miscarriages, and was instructed by her doctor to move away from the stresses of the farm while pregnant if she wanted a chance at a successful pregnancy. The beaches of California worked magic, and the family returned to their farm near Chelsea, SD in 1928 and resided there until 1940 when they moved to Aberdeen. Opal attended elementary school in Chelsea and Junior High and High school in Aberdeen where she graduated in 1946. She continued her education at Northern State College in Aberdeen and met the love of her life, Howard R Tousley. They were married on June 8th,1949. To this union 6 children were born: Terry, Tami, Patrick, Michael, Kevin, and Susan.

For a short time, they lived in Aberdeen before moving to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO when Howard was called for active duty with the South Dakota National Guard. They then moved to Pierre when Howard became employed with the South Dakota Department of Transportation where they planted their roots for the rest of their lives.

Opal worked as a legal secretary for four different South Dakota Attorney Generals. In 1963 she became a Legal Secretary to a private attorney in Pierre, moving to another law firm in 1970 until her retirement in 1991. Opal loved her work and took pride in the fact that she never worked a day in her life. After she retired, Opal began to volunteer her time to the community. And after her husband’s death in 2006, she never missed a beat. She volunteered more of her time volunteering at schools, Saint Mary’s, the Cultural Heritage Center, and Pierre Hospice. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the VFW ladies Auxiliary. She received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Easter Seals Appreciation, and RSVP award. Opal loved her family passionately and always left her door open for them. A visit to mom/grandma’s felt like coming home. No matter what time of day or night, she would “leave the light on”, and be standing at the top of the staircase with her love and her smile, ready to fix a hot plate. She was the sweetest soul, timeless in her grace and beauty, one of the strongest women of her time.

She is survived by five children Terry (Jane), Pierre; Patrick, Pierre; Michael (Debra), Los Alamos, NM; Kevin (Brenda) Maricopa, AZ; Susan, Pierre. Ten grandchildren, Erin (Mike); Sean (Meagan), Chris, Justin (Gabby), Jarah, Joscelyn (Andrew), Garret (Chelsea), Kayla (Hudson), Cody (Bethany), Rayne, and fourteen great grandchildren (Mia, William, Breccan, Micah, Quintin, Luca, Islee, Thea, Kaelyn, Payson, Kendyll, Prestyn, Kameryn, Everly.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, husband Howard, daughter Tami, and great grandson William Vycital.

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