Opal Hinchley
August 23, 1924 – September 19, 2017


Opal Leona Hinchley, 93, our beloved mother has gone home to be with the Lord.

She was born to Beryl & Earl Johnson, August 23, 1924. To this marriage, nine children were born, with Opal being the eldest. Opal married Hank Hinchley May 24, 1941. They raised five children in Marslands, Nebraska. Opal was the postmaster there until her retirement in 1987. After retiring, they did some traveling with friends. They also celebrated 50 years of marriage in May of 1991. Hank and Opal then moved to Crawford. Her loving husband, Hank, passed away there in January of 1992.

In 1999, Opal married Max Staman, who was a kind and caring person. Max had a cattle ranch outside of Crawford. Opal loved ranch life. She enjoyed horseback riding into her late 80’s. She always grew a large garden and was sad when winter came, as they had to move back to town. Max passed away in 2010 and she moved to Prairie Pines in Chadron, Nebraska. She lived there for some years. For a brief time, she lived in Greeley, Colorado, but her heart was always in Nebraska, where she had many friends. She loved to dance and play cards.

Thank you to the friends who always made sure she had a ride to the dances. Family and friends were very important to her. She has many photo albums that document our lives. She also wrote books about Marsland’s history and was very active in her community.

She is survived by her brothers, Arnold Johnson, Dave Johnson and a sister, Iris Wilkins, daughters, Harriet Glover and Wanda (Pete) Michelena and three sons, Bill (Billie) Hinchley, Earl (Penny) Hinchley, and Dennis (Laura) Hinchley, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Bonnie Freeman and Leola Morava, 3 brothers, Floyd Johnson, Roy Johnson and Ray Johnson.

A celebration of her life will be held on a later date. Opals’ ashes will be placed next to her husband Hank, in Marsland, Nebraska. Opal led a full and wonderful life, and she will be deeply missed.