Rita Renee (Opdahl) Andersen-Champlin

Rita "Renee" Andersen-Champlin, 62 of Phenix City, AL, left this life for one of eternal rest on August 28, 2012. Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown SD on Friday September 7th at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be at the New Hope Cemetery in rural Hayti, SD. Honorary casketbearers will be Derick, Joel, Sean and Adam Champlin. Tim Johnson, Wayne & Jeff Walder, Kevin Paulsen, Tony Opdahl and Jordan Doss will be the active casketbearers. Music will be presented by Brian Ries as organist with the Immaculate Conception Church Choir singing. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is handling the arrangements. Renee was born to Howard Charles Opdahl and Agnes Geraldine (Coplan) Opdahl on October 17th 1949 in Watertown, SD and graduated from Hamlin County High School, Hayti SD. Renee also lived in Wilton, ND prior to relocating to Alabama. Renee's favorite activities involved spending time with her husband/children/grandchildren, cooking, bird watching, and ceramics. She was loved and will be missed by many. She was preceded in death by her parents and one nephew. Renee is survived by her husband, Kenneth Lee Champlin SR -Phenix City AL; five children Josie (Greg) Doss - Warner Robins GA, Jed (Angie) Andersen - Watkins MN, Kate (Eric) Mettler - Dickinson ND, Casey (Stephanie) Andersen - Navarre FL, and Andy (Jennifer) Andersen- Warner Robins GA; two stepchildren Kenneth Champlin JR - Billings (MT), and Nettie (George) Malone - Phenix City AL; 19 grandchildren Briana, Samantha, Jordan and Josh (Josie), Jenna, Mya, and Allie (Jed), Sophia and McKenna (Katie), Caleb (Casey), Emily (Andy), Sean, Adam, and Brenna (Kenneth JR), Derick, Joel, Brittany, India, and Ethan (Nettie); six sisters and brothers Coletta "Cokey" Johnson - Henry SD, Lydell Walder - Hayti SD, Patricia "Pat" (Don) Walder- Watertown SD, Sharon (Lanny) Paulsen - Pierre SD, Gregory (Dixie) Opdahl - Hayti SD, and Scott (Mary) Opdahl - Woodlands TX; 36 nieces and nephews, 87 great nieces and nephews, and 14 great-great nieces and nephews. Memorial Contributions can be sent in lieu of flowers to Kate Mettler 2365 5th St West, Dickinson ND 58601; or Nettie Champlin-Malone 1300 Adie St, Phenix City AL 36867. Rita "Renee" Andersen-Champlin, 62 of Phenix City, AL, left this life for one of eternal rest on August 28, 2012. Arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark. www.furnessfuneralhome.com