Elwyn Opheim Obituary

Funeral Services for Elwyn A. Opheim, 89, of Mound City, will be at 11:00 am, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Selby. A visitation will begin at 5:30 pm on Monday, July 28, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church with a prayer service at 7 pm. Elwyn passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the Walworth County Care Center in Selby.

Elwyn Opheim, son of Alton and Edith (Hoffman) Opheim was born May 18th, 1936, in Mobridge, SD. Elwyn grew up on the Opheim family homestead northwest of Selby with his two sisters. He spent all his 89 years on that farm raising crops and livestock, but most importantly his family.

His formal education included the Hagen and Kuehl Country Schools, Selby School graduating in 1954, and SDSU before returning to farm with his dad. Fate intervened during his senior year of high school when a freshman named Jalayne Knecht was tasked with giving him a ride in a little red wagon for her initiation. This was the beginning of a lifelong romance.

Elwyn and Jalayne were married December 25th, 1956. After moving a house to the family farm and remodeling it, they were set for a life of love and family. They had two children, Teri (Wes) Moser and Tom (Dixie) Opheim. Their family continued to grow with five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Elwyn prided himself on the fact that he was part of the progression in agriculture, from horse- drawn equipment, to his Model R John Deere tractor, to operating modern day equipment with auto-steer guidance. Besides changes in equipment, he worked side-by-side with three generations: his father, his son and his grandson.

As a Lutheran, Elwyn's faith and love for the Lord grew as he worshipped and studied at Bethany and St John's. He served in leadership roles in the community on Church Council, Selby Equity Board, Selby School Board and 4-H.

Many family camping trips with his two sisters and their families were taken. And in later years cruises with his sisters and their husbands were a great way to spend some time in the winter. So many special times and memories were made.

With the addition of grandchildren came countless hours of supporting them, rarely ever missing one of their events. No matter what the activity was or what he was doing, you would always see Elwyn with his lifelong partner Jalayne – "forever together".

Elwyn is survived by his wife Jalayne; daughter Teri (Wes) Moser, son Tom (Dixie) Opheim; grandchildren Whitney (Devon) Alexander, Trevor (Jennifer) Moser, Tosha (Brant) Shores, Lexi (Jesse) Vega, Cade (Maria) Opheim; great-grandchildren Adri, Marlee and Will Alexander, Torence and Emeryk Moser, Mesa and Boden Shores, Tawnee and Ryann Opheim; sister Phyllis (LaRue) Martin; mother-in-law Margie Knecht; nieces Lori Evans, Leslie (Doug) Bergh, Karisa (Mark) Bohon; nephew Randy (Cindy) Kempf.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Alton and Edith Opheim; sister and brother-in-law Fran and Roy Kempf; father-in-law Eddie Knecht; nephew Thad Martin.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Elwyn Opheim, please click here to visit our sympathy store.

Memorial Donation