Halverson, Harold P.

Harold P. Halverson, 77, of Waukon, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with the Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be at Mount Sterling Lutheran Cemetery, Mount Sterling, Wis. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Harold Paul Halverson was born April 8, 1932, on the Crawford County, Wis., farm of his parents, Albert Thomas and Alma Olena (Thompson) Halverson. He was baptized and confirmed at Mount Sterling Lutheran Church, attended the Brockway rural elementary school, and graduated from Gays Mills High School in 1949. Harold began a long career in cheese making immediately after school when he went to work at the cheese factory in Seneca, Wis. On April 8, 1952, he married Margaret Elaine Iverson at Mount Sterling Lutheran Church. They farmed the family farm for a year before he returned to cheese making in German Valley, Ill. Two years later he bought into a plant in Wadena, Iowa, naming it Wadena Cheese & Butter, Inc. He operated the Wadena business for 19 years. During this time he acquired plants in Ridgeway and Volney and the Ludlow Community Dairy in rural Waukon, where he moved in 1976. Harold won numerous state championship awards for his cheese making. After selling the Ludlow plant in 1987, Harold spent several years selling grave markers for Winona Monument Co.

Harold was an active community member and volunteer throughout his life. While in Wadena he was a member/chief of the Wadena Fire Department and member/president of the Valley Community school board. In Waukon he was a member of the Lions and Kiwanis service clubs, and served as president of both the St. John's Lutheran Church Council and Waukon Golf and Country Club. Harold liked to hunt and was an avid bowler and golfer. He and Margaret liked to travel and for many years spent part of the winter in Mesa, Ariz. As a sports fan, he enjoyed following the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Twins and Iowa Hawkeyes. Many of his favorite times were spent with his family, playing cards as well as following his children's many activities.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret of Waukon; five children, Greg Halverson of North Ogden, Utah, Cindy (Scott) Butikofer of Cresco, Margie (Kris) Sommers of Prophetstown, Ill., Mary Jo (Russ) Meyer of Waukon and Mark Halverson of Dallas; nine grandchildren, Bryan, Ashley and Matthew Halverson, Tina Brown, Aaron Butikofer, Bailey and Nathan Meyer, Anne Harrop and Kate Cleverly; nine great-grandchildren, Emmalee, Lawson and Aiden Brown, Cole and Kyra Butikofer and Allie, Megan, Marcus and Corbin Cleverly; a brother, Roland (Mayda) Halverson of Cottage Grove, Wis.; three sisters, Helen Beatty of Viroqua, Wis., Berniece Kramer of Neenah, Wis., and Mary Jane Yearous of Rome, Ga.; and two sisters-in-law, Thelma Halverson of Viroqua, Wis., and Judy Halverson of Gladbrook.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Eric in 1987 and infant Wayne; and two brothers, Alvin and Roger Halverson.

Casket bearers are Bryan Halverson, Matthew Halverson, Aaron Butikofer, Nathan Meyer, Scott Butikofer, Kris Sommers and Russ Meyer.

Online condolences may be left at