George Opheim

George Bruce Opheim, the son of Bernold and Gladys Rierson Opheim, was born December 3, 1935, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and was raised in Bode, Iowa. He graduated from Bode High School in 1953 and Luther College in 1957. After teaching music at Goldfield High School, he relocated to Glenwood, Minnesota, where he taught music at the high school beginning in 1960. He earned a master's degree in music education from Mankato State College in 1965 and became director of bands and instrumental music at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, a position he held until 1983. Following his time at Augustana College, he made his home in Alexandria, Minnesota. He died Friday, August 3, 1984, at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident that occurred on Wednesday, August 1, near Hutchison, Minnesota.