Opal Marie (Haas) Bennett Domeyer

Opal Marie Bennett Domeyer, nee Haas, age 95, of Salem, Missouri passed away Monday, September 16, 2019 at the Salem Care Center. Opal was born October 9, 1923 in Rolla, Missouri to Ernest and Evelina Stedman Haas. She grew up on a farm outside Rolla graduating from Rolla High School in 1941. After graduation, she was employed as secretary to the Superintendent of Rolla Public schools for seven years. On June 6, 1948 in her hometown, she married Edward Brown Bennett at the Immanuel Lutheran Church and moved to Salem where she and Ed rejoiced in having one daughter and two sons. In her early years of marriage, she would help out occasionally at the family-owned Bennett Mercantile. She and Ed along with his brother and wife, Frank and Bertha Bennett, owned a restaurant, Lunch Box Café for about thirty years and also another grocery store on South McArthur known as Stop and Shop Market. In 1953, Opal and Ed built a drive-in restaurant on West Rolla Road known as Dairy Princess which they owned until 1966. Opal was employed with the U.S. Census Bureau for ten years and later as an assistant cashier and manager of the Bank of Salem drive-thru, retiring after fifteen years of service.

Throughout her earlier years with her children, she was involved in PTA, was a Brownie Leader and Cub Scout Leader. She was a Sunday school teacher and Sunday school superintendent at the Salem Lutheran Church and was the last of the charter members (1949). She was a charter member of the Cosmopolitan Club (1950) serving in different offices and a charter member of the Dent County Historical Society (1966) and served on the 1960 Centennial Board. Opal was also Dent County chairman of the Heart Association and assisted in Easter Seals, March of Dimes and other drives in past years. Opal loved to be involved in her church and community sharing her time and energy along with helping others.

Opal loved to travel and she and Ed were able to do some before he passed away in 1973. She continued to travel throughout her life, going to all fifty states, the Philippines, Australia, Italy and other parts of Europe and Canada. In 1986, Opal was united in marriage to Richard Domeyer. After her retirement, they were active in the Western Square Dance group of Rolla, traveling and flying in Rick’s restored antique airplane to many locations in the United States. Opal's treasures consisted of many photographs she took of family and her travels throughout her life. No matter where she was, she always had her camera ready. She also spent many hours sewing and quilting lap quilts at church for the sick and ones in the hospital.

Opal deeply loved her family and they meant the world to her. She was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will be sadly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Evelina Haas; parents-in-law, Berna and Grace Love Bennett; her first husband and father of her children, Ed Bennett; her husband, Rick Domeyer; son-in-law, Michael Jones; brother, Elmer Haas and wife Ann; sister, Elsie Chrisco and husband Howard; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard (Roma) Bennett, Frank (Bertha) Bennett, Riley (Mildred) Bennett; and one stepson, Chris Domeyer.

Opal is survived by her daughter, Joyce Jones of Salem, MO; two sons, Bill Bennett and wife Liz of Steelville, MO and Gary Bennett and wife Beth of Brookline, MO; five grandchildren, Ross (Nicole) Bennett of Albion, NE, Brandon (Ashlee) Bennett of Columbia, MO and Lane (Kate) Bennett of Hinesville, GA, Aaron (Sarah) Bennett  and Samantha (Matt) McCall all of Springfield, MO; ten great-grandchildren, Gavin, Claire, Olivia, Caroline, Abigail, Bauer, Lucy-Mae, Allison and Chloe Bennett and Link Haas McCall; step-children, Fred Domeyer of Salem, MO, Jeannie (Kurt) Gustafson of West Bend, WI and Marnie Palmerin of Perris, CA; and step-daughter-in-law, Carol Domeyer of Salem, MO; nieces, nephews; cousins; other relatives; and many friends.

The Family received friends from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at the Salem Lutheran Church in Salem, MO.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at the Salem Lutheran Church in Salem, MO with Pastor David Kettner officiating. Carolyn Shadel played the organ.

Honored to be casket bearers were Gary Bennett, Bill Bennett, Brandon Bennett, Lane Bennett, Aaron Bennett, Samantha Bennett McCall and Leland Chrisco with honorary, Ross Bennett, Larry Chrisco and Bill Haas.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Cedar Grove Cemetery, Salem, MO.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Opal Marie (Haas) Bennett Domeyer, please visit our floral store.