Harold Lloyd Jorgensen

Harold Lloyd Jorgensen was born on March 23, 1962, in the early spring in Epping, North Dakota. He was the sixth child and second youngest of the family, born to Nels and Agnes. Growing up on the cherished family farm in North Dakota, he shared his childhood with four brothers and two sisters. Each of the children contributed to the farm, taking on their assigned chores, and Harold remained close to his siblings throughout his life.

Harold was known for his storytelling. He often recounted tales of his childhood, like braving the bitter North Dakota winters on the way to school, including the time their horse-drawn buggy flipped over. He would also share memories of living with his family of nine in a one-room bunkhouse with a leaning wall, where they all huddled together to keep warm. One of his favorite stories was the day he was struck by lightning at the age of nine or ten, leaving his fingernails and toenails blackened from the experience. His mother loved to retell that story as well. Harold would later claim that the lightning strike spared him from dementia and Alzheimer's, conditions that sadly affected all his siblings. He outlived them all, remaining sharp as a tack until the very end.

Harold served courageously in the Army, particularly in an infantry role on the wall separating North and South Korea. After his service, he remained actively involved with the Disabled American Veterans organization, holding various roles until the end of his life. His dedication to staying connected and attending meetings was unwavering. God bless you, Harold for your service to our nation on the front lines; we are eternally grateful.

After returning from war, Harold met Betty at a dance through mutual relatives. They instantly clicked, fell in love, and married. Over their 67 years of marriage, they developed a special, beautiful love language, becoming inseparable. They loved to travel and always returned to North Dakota for the summer harvest, as he was a farmer at heart. His last trip there was in the summer of 2019. As the saying goes, "You can take the boy out of the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy." He stayed true to his roots forever. As his daughter said, "North Dakota was Harold’s place of peace."

Harold was a man of many interests and an active, helpful spirit. If you knew him well, you knew he was meticulous about his plants and yard. Fun fact: when he edged his lawn, he didn't stop at his own yard; he edged the entire street to ensure the whole block looked perfect. He loved working on vehicles, especially his treasured motorhome. Even at 98, he exercised daily with a rubber band leg strengthener, determined to drive again someday. Harold was tireless in his pursuit of fixing anything broken, embodying the values of frugality he learned during his life, which spanned two world wars and the Great Depression. His mindset was simple: "You don't go out and just buy new things—you fix it yourself!"

Harold departed this world on August 16, 2024, at the age of 98. He was a healthy and determined fighter who had hoped to celebrate his 100th birthday. Sadly, after an accidental fall on his scooter, the injuries he sustained were too much to recover from at his advanced age. No one's passing goes unnoticed, and those closest to Harold have inherited his life's best pages and chapters. His story is infinite because his lively and determined spirit will forever live on in each of us. Though Harold’s earthly life has ended, his vibrant essence will always remain.