Harold Neuman

Harold Robert Neuman, 97, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, died Saturday, November 9, 2013, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls where he resided for the last three years.

Harold was the oldest of four children born to Rudy and Gertie (Olson) Neuman of rural Fergus Falls. He was born on May 28, 1916 in Wright Memorial Hospital, Fergus Falls, MN. (Now on this site is the Otter Tail Power Company Office Building where he worked for 47 years).

Harold was raised on his parents’ farm 5 miles south of Fergus. He learned to work hard but also to enjoy family, relatives and friends. He learned the value of money at an early age as they lost the farm to creditors during the great depression. School of course was a one-roomer a couple of miles south of the farm. During high school years Harold spent the week with Grandma Hanna Olson on Stanton Avenue.

Harold met Melba Neuman on a blind date in Grandville, ND and they were married two years later on November 2, 1940, in the Lutheran Church rectory, Towner, North Dakota. Fergus Falls was their first apartment after Melba’s teaching year was completed. They built a house on East Vasa and lived in it almost all of their 70 years of married life. Of course there were several improvements over the years to the house, including the garage which seemed to keep moving around. (That’s another story.)

Harold and Melba kept busy with community activities, family events and traveling with friends. Community activities included church functions, scouting, JCs, school events, Sons of Norway, Modern Squares, ballroom dancing, meals-on-wheels delivery, YMCA, senior fellowship, and shut-ins visits. Holidays were always spent with family including Thanksgiving in Rochester.

His interests and hobbies were many including: boat building and rebuilding, maple syrup making, island cabin repair, selling concessions and Ottertail Lake lounging with campfire. Many weeks over many years were spent working with Mugs Townsend to raise funds so the family could travel all over the United States for several weeks every year. Relatives were sought out and news and stories and pictures were traded. Many visitors would be spellbound for hours by Harold’s slides of family and trips.

After retirement (1980) more time was spent travelling all over the world. Winters were spent with Fergus friends and relatives, first years in Arizona and then in Texas. After an exhausting winter in the West, then they would travel to Florida to see family.

Preceding his death were: wife Melba (Richards) Neuman; his parents; and three sisters: Bernice (John) Wallace, Eunice (Bud) Berquist and Jane (Bob) McMahon.

Harold is survived by his three sons and family: Ron (Connie Lunde) Neuman of Rochester, MN, Gary (Bonnie Hasbargen) Neuman of Eustis, FL and Paul (Cathy Benson) Neuman of Fergus Falls; nine grandchildren: Jana (Steve) Moeller, Suzy (Chad) Full, Richard (Lisa Webb) Neuman, Robyn (Todd) Hatch, Steven (Lisa Creech) Neuman, Amy (Tim) Underhill, Angie Holm, Megan (Mark) Neubauer, and Chris (Lindsey Oscarson) Clark; 22 great-grandchildren and budding great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at PioneerCare
Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, December 14, 2013, at the PioneerCare Celebration Center in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Tom Peterson and Chaplain Harry Olson
Interment: Bethlehem Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.