Opal I. Bendikson

Opal I. Bendikson, nee Ross, 97, of Springfield, formally of Temecula, Calif, passed away Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. She was born Nov. 6, 1924, in Walnut Grove, to Francis Monroe and Nora (Creed) Ross. 

When Bendikson was 18, she left Walnut Grove and moved to southern California. She was an executive assistant for Edison Electric and after retirement worked with senior citizens helping them understand how to be more energy efficient. She was active in her church, Temecula United Methodist Church. She was also active in her community and started the Ladies Elks Club in Riverside. 

One of her many accomplishments was earning her private pilots license, as well as designing and building a home that was featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. She was also an avid world traveler going to many places including the Great Wall of China, a safari in South Africa, sailing with her husband Larry, from Boston to Long Beach, Calif through the Panama Canal and traveling to Australia and Europe. For her 70th birthday, she went sky diving; 80th birthday she drove a race car; 90th birthday she went zip lining in Catalina Island and was still able to do a 2-minute plank. 

Her legacy will continue through her nieces and nephews who loved her greatly.

Bendikson is survived by sister, Gladys Pauline King; nieces and nephews, Larry Parrish, Bill Thomas, Rick Haze, Steve King, Cheryl Attig and Cindy Doran; several great-nieces and nephews; other family and friends. 

Bendikson is preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Christenson, Larry Hopcroft and Don Bendikson; siblings, Wilma Parrish, Delta Thomas, Virginia “Goldie” Haze, Velma Ross and Leland Ross. Private family services will be held at a later date.