Vernon N. Ophus

Vernon Neil Ophus, 95, passed away from natural causes on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Avista Senior Living in Ellensburg, Washington. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Big Sandy United Methodist Church, with Pastor Carl Ellis officiating. Burial will follow at Big Sandy Cemetery.

Vernon Neil Ophus was born on the family homestead, 13 miles southeast of Big Sandy, Montana, on March 16, 1931. The tenth of fourteen children, he was born to Pearl and Anton Ophus.

Vernon attended school in Big Sandy through the tenth grade, but he preferred farm work, hunting, and fishing. He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served in Korea and Japan.

While stationed in Japan, Vernon met June, who became his wife of 39 years. They were married on August 11, 1953, in Kobe, Japan. Because Vernon was due to leave the Army in February 1954, he requested a transfer to the United States, which was granted. They arrived in Montana on December 24, 1953. Vernon and June spent the next two years working on farms, and Vernon also drove a school bus. June passed away 39 years to the day after their wedding.

In 1955, Vernon and June moved to Havre, Montana, where he attended college for two years and earned a pre-business degree in business administration. In the fall of 1957, they moved to Denver, Colorado, where he enrolled at the University of Denver. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1959.

Vernon began working for a small concrete company in 1959. He spent nearly 40 years working for concrete and gravel companies. At the last concrete company where he worked, he had the pleasure of working alongside both of his daughters.

Vernon retired in 1996 and spent part of that year traveling across the country. Although he had traveled with his family and seen much of the United States, he felt they had always been in a hurry. In retirement, he finally had the opportunity to see America again at his leisure.

Vernon had a knack for finding great real estate deals and owned several properties throughout his life. His first purchase was one of the homes in which he and June would begin raising their family. Unable to have biological children, they chose adoption. In 1962, they welcomed a son, Timothy Allen Ophus, followed by daughters Kay Marie Ophus and Kim Rana Ophus.

Vernon taught his children the skills he knew and instilled in them a strong work ethic. He loved having children around, and when he became a grandfather, he could not have been prouder. His grandchildren are Alisha Hollenbeck, Brandon Callahan and Cohen Callahan. His great-grandchildren are Myloh Blevins and Asher Callahan.

Vernon was preceded in death by his wife, June; his parents, Pearl and Anton Ophus; all but one of his siblings; and several nieces and nephews.

Vernon is survived by his children, Timothy Ophus (Karri), Kay Callahan-Childress (Dana), and Kim Ophus Andresen (Ryan); his grandchildren, Alisha Hollenbeck (Ruben), Brandon Callahan, Cohen Callahan (Ami Koch), and Tyler Poe; his great-grandchildren, Myloh Blevins and Asher Callahan; his sister, Loretta Murphy; and many nieces and nephews.

Local arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements in Montana have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre, Montana.