Burton Halvorson, 1930-2019

Published 1:00 am Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Memorial services for Burton O. Halvorson of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Mitchem will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery Albert Lea.

Burton Halvorson

Burton died Monday, July 1, 2019, at his home in Albert Lea. He was 88.

Burton was born Aug. 28, 1930, in New Richland, the son of Olaf and Leona (Heckes) Halvorson. He graduated from New Richland High School in 1948. He served his country in the U.S. Navy. On Feb. 9, 1957 he was united in marriage to Joyce Jensen in Clarks Grove.

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Burt began working at the young age of 13 as a farmhand and had been employed for 35 years as a truck driver for the Wilson & Co./Farmstead and then for Piepho Freight Service for eight years before retiring in 1992. Burt and his wife, Joyce, of 62 years were very active in their church. Burt mowed the lawn and worked at funerals along with volunteering with office needs. He faithfully delivered for Meals on the Go for almost 25 years, only stopping at the age of 88 for health reasons. Burt was known for keeping a meticulously groomed lawn. He loved putting puzzles together, listening to waltzes and old time polka music along with watching old westerns. One of his proudest accomplishments was hand-digging the basement of their home. He hoped his grandchildren would remember him for being honest and hardworking.

Burton is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Albert Lea; daughters Cindy (Kurt) Smeby of Austin, Connie Adamec of Duluth and Joni (Scott) Bidne of Emmons; grandchildren Kevin, Kendra and Kallie Smeby, Drew and Abbi Adamec and Dalton and Alaina Bidne; sisters Betty Nelson of Albert Lea, Shirley Halvorson of California, Linda Graham of Alaska and Barbara Peterson of Colorado; sisters-in-law Millie Jensen of Albert Lea, Janice Morreim of Manchester and Darline Jensen of Clarks Grove; brothers-in-law Adrian Jensen and Denny (Mary) Jensen, both of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, J.B. Adamec; brother, Jerome Halvorson; sisters Marie Halvorson and Genelle Stuckey; mother and father-in-law Merrill (Lily) Jensen; and brothers-in-law Elwood Jensen, Allan Jensen, Richard Laird, Leonard Stuckey, Rollie Peterson, Howard Nelson and Glen Graham.

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice, United Methodist Church or to the donor’s choice.