By Byron Higgin
Mascot Publisher

Don (Rudy) Opdahl, 65, of Minneota died Sunday night from injuries suffered in a Saturday later-afternoon accident near Hagar City, WI.

Opdahl passed away about 8 p.m. Sunday night at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

He was injured after his Corvette, driven by 62-year-old Janice Pedersen, left the roadway on a curve and entered a ditch in front of the Ralston Purina plant in Hager City, WI.

The car rolled several times.

The accident occurred at 5:39 p.m. Saturday on Hwy. 35.

Pedersen was ejected from the vehicle and both were flown by Mayo helicopter to Rochester.

Opdahl’s death sent pangs of disbelief through “The Roundup,” the coffee-shop-gathering hole for Minneota men.
“He didn’t have an enemy in the world,” said Ed VanDorp. “If you had trouble with him you’d have to look at your own face in the mirror,” VanDorp added.
“I was with him cutting wood Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week,” said Jon Guttormsson. “You couldn’t find a better guy. He was fun to visit with,” he said.
“He was a nice guy,” added Gary Buysse.  “He was just in here before the weekend,” Buysse added.