Ila Halverson

Ila L. (Broste) Halverson, 97, of Tolna, ND passed away, Friday, April 9, 2021, at the NCHS Care Center with her family by her side. Ila lived a long, amazing life because of her motto that age is just a number. She was tough and let nothing get in her way, surviving both Polio and COVID-19.

Funeral Services for Ila will be held on Monday, April 19, 2021, at 2 p.m. at the Tolna gym with Pastor Kapelle officiating. Burial will take place in the Tolna City Cemetery.

Ila Louise was born and raised on a farm North of Hamar, ND. She was born on Sept. 12, 1923, to Ingvold and Sophie Broste. Ila was the 5th of their six children born in their full-blooded Norwegian family. Ila claimed she was the troublemaker of the group, always saying she would get in trouble for being too loud. Her siblings agreed. She attended Hamar High School where she was a Hamar High cheerleader. Even in her 90’s, she would still sing the Hamar High cheer for anyone who asked.

“Lutefisk, Lefsa, Limburger Cheese

We Got Tolna by the BVDs

Wash em out, wring em out

Hang 'em on the line

We can beat Tolna any old time!”

After graduation, Ila got a job at the Armor meatpacking plant in Fargo, ND. In 1945, Ila and Manser Halverson moved to San Francisco, CA, and got married at the city courthouse. Ila worked for several years at the Bank of America there. While in San Francisco, they were the life of the party, hosting many house parties for all their friends and family. When it came time for retirement, they moved back to Hamar, ND.

After moving back to Hamar, the two got divorced and Ila stayed in the Tolna area, near her family, for the rest of her life. Ila worked as a bartender at Joyce’s Bar, Earnie’s Bar, and Dean’s Bar. During her time as a bartender, she made many friends and continued to be the life of the party. Ila also worked for the Green Thumb Program at the McVille School and the McVille Senior Meals Program.

Ila made a mark on anyone she met. She was always loved by the Tolna preschool kids. The kids would beg to go to her house because she loved to spoil them rotten with candy. Everywhere Ila went, she made lifelong friends and was referred to as “Grandma Ila” by kids all around the community.

Grandma Ila had 97 years of love, kindness, and caring for the people around her. What she loved the most was her close-knit family of grandkids, great-grandkids, and great-great grandkids.

We would like to thank the NCHS Care Center for all the amazing work they do and the love and support they always gave Grandma Ila and her family.

Our beloved Grandma Ila is survived by her loving family.

She is survived by her daughter Judy Lane, granddaughters Candi (Howard) Ehlers and Melanye (Bret) Poehls, great-grandchildren Zac (Brittany), Brandi (TJ), Michela (Chris), Parker, Emma, Hannah, and Bailey, and great-great-grandchildren Hattie, Bristol, Brink, and Henry

She is survived by her daughter Pat (Lloyd) Hjelden, grandchildren Kathy (Charlie) Schwol, Wendy (Pat) Lawrence, Pam (Ricky) Ross, and Douglas Hjelden, 14 great-grandchildren, and 22 great-great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her nieces Bonnie Papachek and Bonnie Gillett, great-niece Theresa (Vince) Schneider, and the entire Gillett family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Ivan, Bernice (Gillett), James, Gordon, and Doris (Anderson), nephews Roger, Jimmy, and Donny Gillett and Myron and Jimmy Papachek, granddaughter Kelly, great-grandson Mathew, son in law Chuck Lane, and many of her great friends.

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