September 03, 1912 - November 10, 2011
Roald Bryan Halvorson Obituary Our loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed peacefully into eternal life on November 10, 2011 at the age of 99, at home with family by his side. He was born on September 3, 1912 in Buxton, North Dakota, the youngest of a loving family of eight. His father Matthew owned the town general store, and mother Clara (Jordahl) owned a millenary shop, both were children of Norwegian immigrants. Roald was active from an early age in civic activities including church, school plays, band, and politics. While attending Mayville State Teachers College in North Dakota, he helped start the Young Democrats of North Dakota organization. Several years later FDR appointed him postmaster of Trail County; at which time he was the youngest postmaster in the US at the age of 21 - he served eight years. He also became a 32nd degree Mason at this time. During the 1930s and early '40s he ran the local movie theater, was county chairman of the March of Dimes Fund Raising Campaign, organized local dances, and played drums in a swing band, and sang in a barbershop quartet. He served state-side during WWII. He entertained family and friends with wonderful stories of those early days growing up in a small town, with horse-drawn sleighs, family concerts and revelry, and hilarious pranks by him and his brother Owen. Later, he taught high school Speech, English and History, and worked for Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance (now Thrivent) for over 25 years before retiring in the late 1970s. After retirement, he continued being active in the local Democratic Party serving as PCO for over 20 years. He also shared his talent for many years as a magician with Project Joy. He stayed involved with committee work at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and later joined Central Lutheran. Roald met his lovely wife Phyllis while at college, and raised four children together in a loving Christian home. The family moved west in 1958 to be closer to family in Seattle, but preferred the dryer climate of Spokane. They were married 69 years. He enjoyed fishing, duck hunting, reading and gardening. Over the course of several decades, he enjoyed walking his dogs daily in Manito Park and visiting with the other 'regulars' he met along the way. Friends and family alike often comment on how he always made those present feel welcome and loved through his dear personality, happy eyes, and sincere interest in every subject you might want to talk about. He also possessed a delightful sense of humor! His life revolved around family, and he made any family gathering very special, especially Christmas, where he always had a meaningful and spiritually-oriented speech prepared for the Christmas Eve dinner. We celebrate not only his accomplishments, but also the man of high honor, integrity, kindness, joy and love that he was. As a cousin aptly stated, "I am a better person because I spent time with your father, he was absolutely lovely...A great guy and a life well-lived". Which reminds us that, it is not just what you do in life, but how you make others feel that really counts. We will miss him very much, but find comfort that, through his faith in Christ Jesus, he is now in a beautiful place, joining loving family members and friends who have gone before him. Roald's passing was preceded by his five siblings and one grandson Tanner Halvorson (age 5). He is survived by his wife Phyllis; children Brad (Bellingham), Rod (Diane) of Bellevue, Stephanie (Jerry) Gates, and Jacqui Halvorson of Spokane; grandchildren Ryan Halvorson (Mikie and three children), Chelsea Halvorson (Bellevue); Russ Gates (Helena), Courtney Gates (Colorado), Heather Gates (Seattle), and Corbet Abrahamson (Spokane); and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in February at Central Lutheran Church in Spokane. Roald is interred at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. � To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Roald, please visit our Tree Store. Read more Events NOV 10
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