June 13, 1927 – 2017
Born in Newman Grove, Nebraska
Resided in Lincoln, NE

Virginia Belle Larson Opocensky

Virginia Belle Larson Opocensky was born June 13, 1927 to Art and Esther (Burch) Larson in Newman Grove, Nebraska. She attended school in Newman Grove, graduating in 1945. She attended Norfolk Junior College for two years and taught first grade in Newman Grove. On September 5, 1948 she married Bill (Willard) Opocensky and they moved to Lincoln where they have resided ever since.

Bill and Virginia had two daughters, Claudia and Jan. When her daughters were in school, Virginia went back to UNL to complete her formal education achieving her Bachelors in 1965; she was awarded a fellowship for her Masters and earned her PhD in 1975. She was Coordinator of Young People’s Services for Lincoln City Libraries from 1975 to her retirement in 1988.

Virginia was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Newman Grove, NE, enrolled by her father (a World War I veteran) when she was nine years old. She gave back to her community and stayed intellectually active by being a Board member of the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, writing reviews of children’s books and being a long-time member of the Tuesday Morning Study Club, to name but a few.

Virginia is survived by her husband of 68 years; Jan and her husband Bill Rice; their children, Ashley, Colin, Brendan, his wife Teresa, their daughter Kennedy Virginia and son-in-law Mike Mitchell (Claudia’s husband). Sadly, Claudia died from cancer in 1988.

A memorial service will be held at First Plymouth Congregational Church on Monday, March 20, 2017 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, consider memorials to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo or “Reach Out and Live” at First Plymouth Church. A private burial of her cremains will be held at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.