Opal was born December 10, 1920, in Broken Bow, Nebraska and passed away at the Andbe Home in Norton, Kansas on February 13, 2017. Her parents, Gertrude (Duling) and Clarence Applegate had four girls and five boys and they moved back to Norton when Opal was an infant. As a child, she joined the Norton Church of God. Opal graduated from Norton High School in 1939. She married Elwyn Fox, of Lenora, May 22, 1939, and they made their home in Hill City until 1943 when they moved to Denver. Opal and Elwyn had two daughters, Sharon and Carolyn. Her marriage to Elwyn ended in divorce in 1959. Opal worked in banking most of her life, starting as a teller and moving up to be a vice president loan officer. She was a skilled painter and won several awards at art shows. In 1967, she married Roy Hickman, an employee of Disneyland. Opal would joke that she spent every weekend for 20 years taking guests to the theme park. After Roy passed away, she moved back to Norton, lived a short time in Colorado and back to Norton in 2014. Survivors include: one sister, Betty Callahan, Truth or Consequences, NM; two daughters, Sharon Leiker, Norton, KS; Carolyn Applegate, and husband, Stan, Norton, KS; four grandchildren, Daniel, and wife, Diane Leiker, Thornton, CO; Troy Leiker, Colby, KS; Christopher, and wife, Heather Leiker, Kent, WA; Melinda Elzinga, Arvada, CO; 10 great-grandchildren; 7 great great grandchildren; many nephews, nieces and other descendants. Opal was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; two sisters, Fern Applegate and Velma Ryn; five brothers, Forrest, Carl, Clifford, Mervin and Ivan Applegate; two grandsons, Jeff Sierer and Scott Leiker; one great-grandson, Wesley Leiker. Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Visitation will precede the service from 12:00 Noon to 1:00pm. Burial to follow at the Longmont Mountain View Cemetery. Memorials - Opal Hickman Memorial Fund in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.
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