Ronald Carroll Halverson, 87, of Austin, Minn., died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., of terminal dementia. He was born Oct. 14, 1926, in Lyle, Minn., to Olaves and Clara (Mortenson) Halverson. After graduating from Lyle High School in 1944, Ronald enlisted in the United States Army where he served in China as a communications specialist.  He lived in Lyle until 1974, when he relocated to Austin. On Sept. 1, 1950, Ronald was united in marriage to Helen Wood. The couple raised three children. He was married to Arleen Closs from 1982 to 1985, and to Marjorie Hollerud from 1989 until his death. ‘Binkie,’ as Ron was known to friends and family, was a very active man who enjoyed waterskiing, camping, fishing, hunting, riding a bike, playing cards, and “shooting the breeze” with the boys. He traveled extensively to most of the U.S. over the last five decades of his life. Bink worked at Hormel from 1950 to 1981, and retired after a shoulder injury. In later years as his memory failed him, he resided at Primrose Cottage in Austin, Whispering Oaks in Ellendale, and lastly Our House in Austin. Bink was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle and then St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin.

Survivors include his daughter, Diane Harry, of Rochester; sons James Halverson, of Lyle; and Steve (Kathy) Halverson, of Ellendale; five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; sister, Loris Drennan, of Farmington; ex-wife, Helen Halverson, of Austin, and his wife, Marjorie, widow of Norman Hollerud, who has six children, Sandra Chaby, Diana Brown, Lana Hollerud, Cindy Seavey, John Hollerud, and Dennis Hollerud, 13 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Olaves and Clara Halverson, brothers Kenneth, Clayton, and Paul, sister Norma Newell, as well as four siblings who died in childhood, David, Phillip, and the twins; one step-grandson, Beau Zabel.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin, with Pastor Barbara Finley-Shea officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home, and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Interment will be in Woodbury Cemetery, Lyle. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.