Harold Iverson, 83, of Sawyer, died Jan. 7, 2012, at Trinity Hospital in Minot. Harold's wife, Lorraine Iverson, 83, Touchmark Residences, (formerly Waterford), Bismarck, died Jan. 6, 2012, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Sawyer, with Rev. Arie Bertsch officiating. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Cremation has taken place.
Harold Iverson, 83, was born on Sept. 8, 1928, in Minot, the son of Knute and Thora (Jorde) Iverson. He was raised and attended schools in Minot and graduated from Minot High School.
While Harold was working for a local oil company, he met Lorraine Christensen and they were married on Sept. 19, 1948, in Minot.
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Harold was building homes and The Blue and White Cabins Motel at the present location of the Marketplace Foods store, when his Guard unit was activated for service, into the Korean War. He served with the North Dakota National Guard and the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1953.
Following his service, he resumed building houses in what was an earlier oil boom in northwest North Dakota.
He was appointed postmaster of Sawyer in 1961, by John F. Kennedy, at a time when presidential appointments actually occurred for postmaster. He retired as postmaster in 1991. He continued building homes and taking care of his properties.
Harold was a resourceful, hardworking man who even as a young boy in the Depression used his team of goats and a wagon to sell ice cream on Minot's M Street. He carried through with his work ethic throughout his life, and in addition to building homes with Lorraine at his side, and working at the post office, he also did custom threshing as a child and baling as an adult.
It was his love and care for his family that gave Harold the motivation to work hard and provide for them.
Lorraine Iverson, 83, was born on Oct. 3, 1928, in Sidney, Mont., the daughter of Jens and Marie (Larsen) Christensen. She was raised in Sidney, where she graduated from high school. She moved to Minot and attended Minot Business College before working as a bookkeeper with Thompkins Coal.
After their marriage, Lorraine supported Harold in his work, while caring for their family. She was truly Harold's faithful helpmate. Lorraine was involved in her church, and participated with her children as a 4-H leader. She was always at her children's sporting events, and was so excited to see them perform.
After her children were grown, Lorraine developed an interest in art and created many paintings. She was a member of the Sunshine Club that looked after the Sawyer Cemetery.
Lorraine loved her family, working alongside her husband and being with her children and grandchildren.
Harold and Lorraine will be deeply missed.
They are survived by: their children, Ronald (Joan) Iverson, Rapid City, S.D.; Dianne Steig, Beulah; Peggy (Darrell) Kelsch, Bismarck; Chris (Janet) Iverson, Beulah; Julie (Casey) Voigt, Beulah.
Their grandchildren, Erik (Steph) Iverson, and Leif (Shannon) Iverson; Brianne (Jason) Aitchison and Dane Steig; Carson Nordgaard, Ivy Nordgaard, and Alyssa Kelsch; Anna, Noah, and Nessa Iverson; Leah and Lane Voigt; and eight great-grandchildren.
Lorraine is also survived by: two sisters, Dorothy Dooley and Minnie Dotson.
Harold was preceded in death by his brother and a sister.
Lorraine was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Go to (www.eastgatefuneral.com) to share memories of Harold and Lorraine and sign the online guestbook.
Eastgate/Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck