Allen Haroldson

Allen Haroldson, 75, of Pomme de Terre Township and Mesa, AZ, died Thursday, November 22, 2007 at his home in Mesa. Allen was born on November 26, 1931 to Olaf and Olive Haroldson in Pomme de Terre township near Elbow Lake, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at the Hjerdahl Lutheran Church. He attended grades one through six at Riverside and Pomme de Terre schools of rural Elbow Lake and grades seven through twelve at the Ashby Public School where he graduated with the Class of 1949. Following graduation he worked for the Sanford Brothers of Elbow Lake until he joined the U.S. Air Force in early 1951. He served three years in Germany during the Korean Crisis and was discharged in late 1954. He then went to work for Burke County in North Dakota operating heavy equipment. In 1956 he married Arlyss Bomstad of Lignite, ND. He graduated from the Wahpeton State School of Science and in September of 1960 he began employment with Otter Tail Power Company in Jamestown, ND. In 1964 he transferred to the System Major Maintenance Crew in Fergus Falls. He retired from Otter Tail Power in 1994. Following retirement he and his wife moved to Pomme de Terre near Elbow Lake where he enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting and volunteer work. He also enjoyed traveling. He and Arlyss visited England, Europe, China, the Panama Canal, Alaska, Russia, Canada and most of the United States. They spent six months each year wintering in Arizona. Allen was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather who spent many special hours with his family at their lake home. He was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. He held life memberships in the Elks Club and the VFW in Fergus Falls. He belonged to the American Legion Post in Ashby where he was a life member and a member of the color guard. Allen is survived by his wife, Arlyss; one daughter, Alana (John) Fabian of Coon Rapids, MN; two sons, Michael (Diane) Haroldson of Wheatland, WY and James Haroldson of Fergus Falls; nine grandchildren, Jacob and Laura Fabian, Erika, Jeremy (Lori) Michaela, Daneille, Charity, Christina, and Gabriel Haroldson, two brothers, Dean (Charlotte) Haroldson of St. Cloud, Tom (Sheila) Haroldson of Sun city, AZ, and seven sisters-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers; Ardie, Robert, William, and Edwin. Services were held Tuesday, November 27th at 2:00 pm in the Royal Hall at Mesa Regal Park in Mesa, Arizona. There will be a time to visit with family and friends from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2007 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2007 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Burial: Hjerdahl Cemetery near Elbow Lake Military Honors: Ashby American Legion Local arrangements by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com