Harold Arnold Halverson, 88, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Feb. 20, 2017, at Milestone Assisted Living Facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

He was born on Feb. 24, 1928, in Cornell, Wisconsin, to Bertha (Favre) and Harold Arthur Halverson. He graduated from Cornell High School, and he then served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and VFW.

Harold worked as a grocery meat cutter during his early years, and he then worked at 3M Manufacturing and lived in Fairmont, Minnesota, for 10 years before going to school for federal meat inspection training. The family moved to Austin in 1967, where he worked for Hormel until he retired.

On June 20, 1949, he married Leola M. Ehleringer in a double ceremony in Iona, Minnesota, with Lee’s twin Vi also marrying Harold’s twin brother Henry!

Harold enjoyed wood working, playing cards, especially “500” and traveling to Texas for the winter months after retirement.  He was proud of his Catholic faith serving as a lector and eucharistic minister. His family said a daily rosary, and he continued that prayer to the end.

He is survived by his four children, Mary (Tim) Brown, Mosinee, Wisconsin, Barbara (Roger) Halvorson, Gilbert, Arizona, Joseph Halverson, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Teresa (Jeff) Macal, Pensacola, Florida; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Monica (Bud) Sweeney, Cornell; and his special friend and companion for the last 15 years, Hazel Rysavy, Austin.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Lee; infant daughter, Ann; his parents; sister, Marguerite and (Jim) Gschwend; twin brother, Henry and (Vi) Halverson.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Friends may call one hour before the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216.

Mayer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com.