Arthur Halvorson

Arthur Halvorson, age 93, of rural Lakota, ND died Monday, October 21, 2019 at home on the family farm.

Arthur Rodney Halvorson was born December 24, 1925 at home, rural Pekin, ND to Rudolph and Nora (Donohue) Halvorson.  He grew up on the farm and attended Sheyenne #2 Country School through 8th Grade.  Arthur joined the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II where he crossed the equator 4 times.  On September 2, 1950, Arthur married Marie Kober at St. Patrick’s Rectory, Billings, MT.  Art and Marie lived for a time in Billings.  In 1953 they moved back to North Dakota to pursue what Art loved to do most, which was farming.  They rented the Anna Groves farm for two years and then bought the Henry Bagne farm in October 1955.  In a sense, Art never stopped farming.  Even in his last days, as he peered through the window of his favorite room, he remarked that there was a crop growing on the home quarter.    

Arthur served for many years on the Illinois Township Board.  He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Rundell-Holicky American Legion Post 21 for 51 years.  Arthur enjoyed reading, astronomy, bird watching, indoor gardening, travel, golf, swimming, dancing, lazing in the Arizona sun, and mostly spending time with his family.  He often said, “I couldn’t ask for a better life” and considered his greatest achievements marrying his wife, raising his 5 children, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Arthur is survived by his wife Marie Halvorson, rural Lakota; children Rodney (Linda) Halvorson, Laurel MT, Lawrence (Mary Anne) Halvorson, Billings, MT, Judy Halvorson Holzman, Lakota, ND, Cindy (Jeff) Ritteman, Lakota, ND, and Eric (Tracy) Halvorson, Springfield, MO; grandchildren Alyssa (Joe) Wright, Sheridan, WY, Sarah Halvorson, Naperville, IL, Andrew (Melanie) Halvorson, Chagrin Falls, OH, Mathew Halvorson, Missoula, MT, Dane Halvorson, Los Angeles, CA, Mark Halvorson, Billings, MT, Kate (Steven) Hicks, Houston, TX, Paul (Debora) Holzman, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thomas (Ashley) Ritteman, Plymouth, MN, Jacob (Chelsea) Ritteman, Fargo, ND, Caleb Ritteman, Bismarck, ND, and Elizabeth Huggins, Springfield, MO; great grandchildren Austin Wright, Gabriella Wright, Beatrice Halvorson, Stella Halvorson, Fiel Hicks, Florence Hicks, Jeremiah Hicks, Josephine Holzman, Millie Holzman, Titus Ritteman, Arianna Huggins, and Kaiden Huggins; siblings Aloyus (Arlene) Halvorson and Murill Halvorson; sisters-in-law Liv Halvorson, Carol Halvorson, and Marie Halvorson; and many nieces and nephews. 

Arthur was preceded in death by his parents; great grandchild Eric Richard Huggins; and siblings LaVern (Jean) Halvorson, Dennis (Sylvia) Halvorson, Terrence Halvorson, and Daniel Halvorson. 

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Lakota, ND, Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.  A Vigil Service will be held Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the church.  Interment will be in the Lakota Cemetery.  Military honors will be provided by Rundell-Holicky American Legion Post 21 and U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Team.

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