Donald A. Halvorson Obituary (1917 - 2011)

Donald A. Halvorson, age 94, of Boyceville, WI, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 at Dunn County Health Care Center in Menomonie, where he had been a resident for the past four years. Don was born on Nov. 25, 1917 in Boyceville, where he became a life-long resident. He was the eldest son of Herman (H.K.) Halvorson and Myrtle (Drake) Halvorson. Don had one younger brother, Douglas John Halvorson (deceased.) On May 7, 1941, he married Rowena "Bo" Benner, also of Boyceville, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elwyn Benner. Don and Bo had two daughters, Judy Binkowski of Elmwood, WI and Diane Nichols of Afton, MN. Don was a natural athlete and enjoyed participation in basketball, football, tennis, bowling, golf, and swimming. In the years following his graduation from school, he was a regional referee in basketball and football. Don was offered a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, which he reluctantly declined due to the death of his mother in his senior year of high school. He chose to remain in Boyceville to provide emotional support for his father and to assist him in publishing the newspaper. This was subsequently to become his career. He served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 1941 to Dec. 1945. Don achieved the rank of SGT - Administrative NCO in the personnel department of the Medical Detachment Unit at Camp Barkeley, Texas. He is a long time member of the American Legion. Upon his honorable discharge in 1945, Don returned home to assist in publishing the three newspapers that were printed in the Boyceville office at that time. At the time of his father's death in 1956, he became the owner and editor of The Boyceville Press, which would eventually become The Press-Reporter. In addition, he ran a commercial printing business. When Don and Bo sold the paper in 1975, it had been in the Halvorson family for 63 years. He enjoyed writing a weekly column called Swede's Corner, a reporting of local people and events, the purpose of which was getting local names in the paper. He once stated, "My motto was you didn't have to die, get married, or have an accident to get your name in The Press-Reporter." He made certain not to hurt anyone's feelings, and used initials in place of names when reporting anything slightly shady or risqué. It was a looked for and favored column of his subscribers. Don was a gregarious man with a keen sense of humor, who made quick friends of acquaintances. He had a newspaper man's interest in other people, their stories, and family histories. Don was known to be a kind and extremely generous man with a great capacity for empathy. It gave him much pleasure to send notes and flowers to friends experiencing any kind of life's challenges. He was a true gentleman who loved and was proud of his family. He was an exceptional father and grandfather, deeply loved, and will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Douglas, and by his beloved wife, Bo, who passed in 1983. He is survived by two daughters, Judy (Frank) Binkowski of Elmwood, WI and Diane (Dale) Nichols of Afton, MN. He had three grandsons: Brian (Cyndy) Binkowski, Hammond, WI, Brent Binkowski, Althone, Ireland, and Dr. Brock Binkowski (Brooke) Sauk City, WI. Don also had four great-grandsons: Derek and Devin Binkowski, Hammond, WI, and Kai and Koen Binkowski, Sauk City, WI. Additional survivors are his former sister-in-law Nancy (Tom) Smith of Eau Claire, WI, and two nieces, Roxanne (Clay) Hancock, Dunnellon, FLA and Kari (Lewis) Fatta of Melrose Park, ILL. We wish to thank O.K. Hedlund for his years of very special friendship to Don, for the meandering country rides and lively conversations, and for his continued visits and support. Don's family would like to give their heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at DCHC, who gave him their friendship and loving care over the course of his stay with them. At Don's request, a private memorial service will be held for the immediate family, officiated by his dear friend, Pastor Bill Wendt. Olson Funeral Home of Menomonie is serving the family.