Roland “Ron” G. Halverson

Wednesday, October 14, 2015 1:04 pm

Roland “Ron” G. Halverson, 94, of Decorah, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, at Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian. Memorial services were at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Melissa Bills officiating. Private family inurnment was in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation began at 12:30 p.m. Friday, one hour before the service, at First Lutheran Church. Organist was Marcia Engebretson. Congregational hymns were “Amazing Grace,” “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” and “How Great Thou Art.” Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah served the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Roland (Ron) Garfield Adrian Halverson was born June 8, 1921, at his grandmother’s home in Decorah, the son of Oscar and Nora (Moen) Halverson. He was baptized at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. He went to country school and then attended Decorah High School. Ron was united in marriage to Geneva A. Thompson Jan. 17, 1942, at First Lutheran Church Parsonage, by Rev. T. A. Hoff. This union was blessed with four children: Douglas, Brenda, Judy and Boyd.   He farmed for many years in Springfield Township until retirement. Then he was employed FCIC Insurance, a branch of the United States government, for several years. He was an adjuster for federal crop insurance. Ron served on the First Lutheran Church Council and as a member of the Lutheran Cemetery Board. He enjoyed watching his sons, grandsons, brother, nephews and niece race their stock cars at local and nearby tracks. He also enjoyed watching his grandson compete at tractor pulls. Ron has been a resident of the Ossian Senior Hospice since Oct. 2012.

Ron is survived by his wife, Geneva; one daughter, Brenda Headington; two sons, Douglas Halverson and Boyd (Jan) Halverson, all of Decorah; 10 grandchildren: Bill Headington, Becky Courtney, Beth Headington, Richelle Halverson, Brent (Jill) Halverson, Dana (Mark) Carolan, Joel (Cyndi) Halverson, Chad (Tracy) Halverson, Ryan Halverson and Tim Hovey; 19 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dale (Virginia) Halverson of Decorah; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Judy Hovey, in 2007; two grandchildren, Michelle Halverson and Bradley Halverson, in infancy; one great-grandson, Rhett Hovey, in infancy; one brother, Richard Halverson; one son-in-law, Bill Headington; four nephews: Rodney Halverson, Ricky Halverson, Scott Halverson and David Thompson; a niece, Roxanne Ingle; his father- and mother-in-law, Albert and Leona Thompson, and brother- and sister-in-law, LaMoyne and Edna Thompson.