I have always known who Barb Ophus was, but I have enjoyed getting to know her better when we eat lunch at the Big Sandy Senior Center. She has 11 children. She lost a child, Lacee. Shane is the oldest, and Clete is the youngest of 10 children. She lost one grandchild, Laynee, leaving her with 30 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
Barb was born in Havre. "I started teaching right after I graduated from college, with my bachelor's from Northern in those days. I graduated in the evening and got married the next morning. Then, I taught in Great Falls second grade at Laurel Elementary. After we left Great Falls and moved way out to the country, it was called Cow Island trail." She taught for several years at a country school 60 miles from here. I always knew her to be a mother, so it was my assumption she was a stay-at-home mom. But she taught and substituted school for 30 years.
"When we first moved here (Big Sandy), I had no identity at all. I was home with the kids. So, I didn't work outside the home. Nobody knew me, and I wasn't from here." I asked her if she was lonely, and she said, "No, I was busy. Very busy. Three Meals a Day."
I asked what's important to you besides family because, obviously, family is significant. "Faith is essential. That's number one. Your faith is very important to her family. So faith, family, and friends.
Lyle Ophus, her husband, has been gone since May 2022. He also went to church because "it was important to get your whole family to church together."
The current house she lives in was built in 1978/79. I asked her what her hobbies were. What do you like to do? "I don't do anything anymore. Really. I exercise. I pray. I go to Seniors every day. I go to Mass three times a week. I pray a lot every day. And I lift weights every other day. And I walk on the treadmill for 40 minutes every day. And I say the rosary every day." So, her faith is a significant part of her day.
So, your faith is a major part of your day every day? "I don't know how people live without it. Because my kids have a lot of troubles-you
know, like everybody. It takes me a whole hour at least to pray for my children, and then there are my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and anyone else who needs prayer, and our country! You know, our economy and everything. And all those wars that need prayer.
Her last comment was Big Sandy needs the Big Sandy Senior Center and the Big Sandy Mountaineer. I'm sure both are prayed for daily.
