Funeral services for Paul Halvorsen, 84, of Kiester will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Mansfield Lutheran Church. The Rev. Don Rose will officiate. Interment will be at Lime Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Paul died Thursday, Dec.10, 2009, at Parkview Care Center in Wells.
Paul Allen Halvorsen was born on April 13, 1925, to Leo and Laura (Oyer) Halvorsen in Winnebago County, Iowa. He graduated from Emmons High School in 1942, where his favorite subject was football. Paul entered the service in 1945 where he so proudly served his country as a Paratrooper in the 13th Airborne. He enjoyed many communal fishing trips to Utah to be with the Morgan cousins, life long friendships forged in the Army. Paul was united in marriage to Rose Armstrong on Aug. 22, 1953. Paul and Rose were blessed with eleven children. Paul and Rose operated a farm and dairy operation in rural Emmons until Paul retired in 1981 and moved to Kiester. Paul had part-time jobs at Don Gooden’s Valley Manufacturing, Bricelyn Owatonna Packing Company in the White House and was the most requested deer de-boner at Mansfield Meats for Ralph and Pat Thiner. Following Rose’s death in 1998, Paul married Darlene Furness Hacker on Sept. 1, 2000. Hearing him call “Come Boss” was a twice daily ritual at milking times. When he was asked one of his favorite memories he said, “Sunday nights seeing all of my kids watching ‘The Wonderful World of Disney,’ then Bonanza and having a popcorn supper.” Paul loved country music when country wasn’t cool; he also loved to polka, schottische and waltz. Pleasures were also fishing and camping.
Survivors include his children Sheryl Matson, Dawn (Doug) Dean, Suzanne Peterson, Lynn Halvorsen, Mary (Kerry) Halvorsen, Linda (Marty) Halvorsen, Brenda (Michael) Finken, Paula Halvorsen and Joshua (Jeny) Halvorsen; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; step-children Marty (Delores) Hacker, Janis (Mark) Prenger, Nadine Hacker, David Hacker, Tom (Sheila) Hacker and the entire Hacker Clan; siblings Leo (Alma) Halvorsen Jr., Mescal Gooden, Rodney (Barbara) Halvorsen and Ingri (Russ) Krech; brother-in-law, Ed Woynowskie; his aunt, Nellie; and Rose’s sister, Doris.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents; wives Rose and Darlene; sons Kent and Todd Halvorsen; sisters Doris Woynowskie and Maxine Halvorsen; son-in-law, Charles Matson; and brother-in-law, Don Gooden.
His children all had a wonderful childhood, thank you Dad! Dad was the parent that if we really wanted something he would say, “I suppose.”