Harold Joseph Jorgenson

Harold Joseph Jorgenson, age 82, passed away at his home in Ferndale after a long illness.

Harold was born on Nov. 13, 1922, to George and Bertha Jorgenson. He attended school in Clarkfield, and Park Rapids, Minn. He farmed with his family, worked in his father's blacksmith shop and did some logging. He spent 12 years in the U.S. Army beginning with the National Guard, then active duty prior to WW11. He was a gunnery Sgt. in the Aleutian Islands with an anti-sub unit and worked with the MP unit. He was later called back to active duty for the Korean War.

Harold married June Westlund on Oct. 28, 1945. They lived in Park Rapids until 1952, when the family moved to Colorado Springs.

Harold was a master craftsman pipe fitter. He was a member of the pipe fitters union, and worked on big construction jobs, which included missile bases, Libby Dam, Kalispell Hospital and Colstrip. The family moved to Bigfork in 1963 where he hand-built their log home in Ferndale.

Harold was an Explorer Scout Leader, retired volunteer from the Ferndale Fire Department and a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, where he served on the Church council and sang in the choir. He loved to hunt, fish, enjoyed gardening, farming, playing the guitar and accordion, woodworking and traveling to the desert.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Marlow, Francis, George, Hiram, Leon, Severin; sisters, Una New, Ann Elmer, and Helen Carlson.

He is survived by his wife June at the family home, daughter Karen and her husband Charles Bradstreet, sons Mike and wife Julie, Tony and wife Karen, Dale and wife Renea, Kelly and wife Debra; grandchildren, Scott and wife Sherry, Eric and wife Anita, Steve Bradstreet, Casey and wife Heather, Dan Jorgenson, Andrea and husband Matt Young, Chase and wife Christina, Laramie and wife Nicole, Henrik and wife Lia, Cody, and Chance Jorgenson, Justin Goode; great grandchildren, Marriah and Brett Bradstreet, Chantry, and Destiny Jorgenson, sister Joan Mickleson, numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held March 9, at Bethany Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Jack Shannon officiating. Burial followed at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, with Veterans Honors conducted by the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley. Bigfork Funeral Home cared for the family.