Harold Samuelson

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 13, 2009

Harold Lavern “Sam” Samuelson, age 84, of Austin, died Thursday, March 12, 2009 at Prairie Manor Nursing Home in Blooming Prairie, Minn. 
Sam was born Nov. 30, 1924 to Wilfred and Abbie (Pedersen) Samuelson of Rose Creek, Minn.  At 16, he had to quit school to run the family farm when his father died suddenly in 1941.  On June 2, 1947 he married Roma Rae Bendtsen at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Rose Creek.  Sam and Roma lived in Rose Creek for 24 years, during which time they raised their five children:  Penny, Jo, Rebecca, Rhonda and Jay. 
A hard-working provider for his family, Sam first worked for the Landherr Rose Creek Produce for 19 years before it was sold, then for Sheedy Bros. Dairy in Austin for 13 years and finally as a custodial engineer for 15 years in the Austin Public Schools.  Soon after retiring in 1989, he started work again driving bus for Cedar Valley Services.  Sam had a special rapport with the Cedar Valley employees with disabilities, and really enjoyed those eight years as their bus driver.  He retired a second time in 1994.
Sam and his wife, Roma were avid square dancers for 38 years.  They also enjoyed camping, family vacations, travel and sight-seeing.  They felt blessed to be able to travel much during retirement. 
Sam was a kind and generous husband, father, grandfather, friend, neighbor and since 1971, an active parishioner of Queen of Angels Church.  He was devoted to his wife, his children and to the other people in his life — never to “things.”  He cherished every second of time spent with his family.  Supporting his loved ones and friends in any way he could was always an absolute priority for him.  We will miss him so much!
Survivors include his wife: Roma Samuelson, Austin; children: Penny (Steven) Kinney, Austin, Jo (Dennis) Lowe, Albert Lea, Rebecca (Eddie) Butts, Milwaukee, Wis., Rhonda (Michael) Halbach, Plymouth, Minn, Jay (Angela) Samuelson, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; 10 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, cousins, aunts and uncles.
A funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2009 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating.  There will be a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Sunday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Monday.  Interment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Rose Creek.
The casketbearers will be Steven Kinney, Dennis Lowe, Darrell Lowe, Chris Lowe, Ryan Lowe, Jay Samuelson, Michael Halbach, Eddie Butts. Memorials are preferred to Queen of Angels Church, Prairie Manor Nursing Home or Arc.

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