Funeral Service for Mildred "Millie" C. Opitz, 88, of Sisseton, SD will be held on December 23, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. at Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton, South Dakota. Officiating will be Vicar Pat Schubert. Organist will be Ollie Yost and soloist Pat Schubert. . Pallbearers will be Justin Fisher, Jeff Shephard, Tim Platten, Micky Platten, Lynn Pistorius and Kevin Pistorius. Honorary Pallbearers will be All Nieces and Nephews. There will be a Visitation Wednesday , December 22, 2021 from 5:00 P.M. till 7:00 P.M. with a Prayer Service starting at 7:00 P.M. at Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the funeral service at the Church. Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Mildred Cordilia Schaunaman was born on November 25, 1933 in Sisseton, SD to Fred and Esther (Dalchow) Schaunaman. Millie moved from the farm to Sisseton, at age 13, to attend High School. She worked for room and board for four years at the Eugene Okerlund home. And yes, she did know "Mean Gene" when he was little. When he saw her years later at a SHS reunion, she got the biggest hug. Millie was united in marriage to Eugene Opitz on August 18th, 1955 in Sisseton where they made their home. Millie had various jobs throughout her life. After attending NSU, she taught country school for a year, did waitressing, worked at Landsberger Creamery, was a clerk at the Sears Catalog store and managed the Montgomery Ward catalog store for several years. She operated her own business from her home selling Dacotah fabric. Millie and Gene traveled to different craft fairs where they sold his woodworking and her hand sewn pillows. Millie worked as a cashier at Dakota Magic Casino and then at K&K until her retirement. Millie was a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church and participated in ladies aide, Bible Study and Quilting. She was a member of NARFE and helped with various fundraisers. Millie was a member of the Otto-Quande- Renville American Legion Auxiliary. When her girls were young, she was active in 4H and PTA. Anyone who knew Millie, knew she loved to sew. She has made hundreds of quilts and donated as many as 80 at one time to local churches. She also loved to be in the kitchen cooking, baking and canning. She loved to read and could read a book in a day. She loved being a Grandma and Great Grandma. Millie passed away at her home on December 17, 2021.

Mildred is survived by her daughters Joyce (Michael ) McDonnel of Sioux Falls, SD and Rosemarie Colledge of Phoenix, AZ, Granddaughters, Lori ( Tony) Lamb of Marshall MN, Amanda (Dustin) Walsh of Sioux Falls, SD, Great-granddaughters Tayna and Morgan Lamb and Autumn McDonnel; Sisters, Charlotte Ritz of Watertown, SD. and Cordilia "Susie" Davis, Sandstone, MN and many more nieces and nephews.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband Eugene Opitz; her parents Fred and Esther Schaunaman.; Sister, Deloras Ceroll; Brothers Gilbert and Clarence Schaunaman, Infant brother and infant daughter Mary Ann, and a grandson Jason McDonnel.

Condolences can be mailed to her daughter, Joyce McDonnel,  5716 W. Dardanella Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57106