Harold “Dip” F. Dever, 87 of Austin, died May 27, at the Austin Medical Center, Austin.
Harold was born on May 31, 1920 in Jackson, Minn., to William and Maude (Ibach) Dever. They moved to Wells, Minn., and then to Austin in 1925. He attended Lincoln Elementary school and graduated from Austin High School in 1938. At the age of 13, he worked Ben Speck’s grocery store until starting work at the Hormel plant on Oct. 5, 1938. He retired in June 1981 after working at Hormel for over 43 years. Harold was proud of his service in the Army Air Corps Transport Command in World War II, from 1942 to December 1945.
In December 1947, he was united in marriage to May (Yarwood) Dahl at the St Olaf Parsonage in Austin.
Harold always liked sports. He played basketball at the Shaw Gym in the evenings and the fast pitch softball city league from the time he was 16. He was most proud of being inducted into the Minnesota Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1995. Harold volunteered at the Adams Health Center, St Mark’s Nursing Home and the Austin Medical Center. He was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, a member of Post 91 American Legion and Post 1216 VFW. He was very happy just being with people. He was a kind and generous person who contributed to the community and made it a better place to live.
Survivors include his son, C. E. (Butch) Dahl and wife, Mary of Ft Myers, Fla.; brother, Robert Dever, Mitchell, S.D.; sister, Shirley Lackey, Stockton, Calif.; granddaughter Michelle, Turo, Mass.; grandson Mark, New York City, N.Y.; two great-grandsons, nieces and nephews; and special friend, Eula Reshetar.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife May; brothers, Jack and Gary and sisters, Teresa, Beverly and Joann.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday June 14 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Karen Behling officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery with Austin Post # 91 American Legion in charge of military rites. A reception will follow at the Mower County Senior Citizen’s Center. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or Our Savior’s Building Fund. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.