Harold Jonathan ERSLAND

ERSLAND, LUTHRO, ELLISON, FORD, THOMAS, ZELLER, REDD, MORLEY, EVERSON, WESTRE, RUD, PRIEBE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/28/2015 at 14:42:41

August 18, 1922 --- January 21, 2015

Harold Jonathan Ersland, 92, formerly of Sioux Falls, SD died Wednesday, January 21, 2015, in Henderson, NV. His funeral service will be 10:00 AM Saturday, January 31 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation begins at 5:00 PM Friday, January 30 at George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, where the family will greet friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Harold was born to Thomas and Christine (Luthro) Ersland on August 18, 1922, in the family Home, Humboldt County, Iowa. Harold was the oldest of six children, Marelyn, LaVonne, Thomas, Jr., Pauline and Eunice. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Trinity Lutheran Church near Hardy. He attended grade school in a rural school house and graduated from Eagle Grove High School, Eagle Grove, Iowa, in 1940. He graduated from Eagle Grove Junior College in 1942. During 1943 he served in the Army for a short time. After his discharge, he returned to Augustana College and received his B.A. degree in 1945. While there, he met his wife, Fern Ellison, the love of his life, and they were married September 7, 1946, and lived in Sioux Falls their entire married life, over 64 years. Shortly after Fern died in 2011, he moved to Henderson, Nevada, to be near his daughter, Mary Ford.

In 1946, Harold began his career as a District Representative for Lutheran Brotherhood (now Thrivent) in Sioux Falls. During his 46 years with Lutheran Brotherhood, he received many sales honors, and served four terms on the board of the Sioux Falls District Life Underwriters Association. He was President of his South Dakota Fraternal Congress in 1973. He twice received the Lutheran Brotherhood Presidential Citation for Outstanding Community Service. Much of his community service was with the Sioux Falls YMCA. He was Chairman of the YMCA Board for three terms, a member of many standing committees, and Chairman of the Leif Ericson Day Camp Committee. He also served on the Board of the United Community Services (now United Way) of Sioux Falls from 1956 to 1963. He was an ardent supporter of his alma mater, Augustana College, a member of the Augustana Fellows, the Athletic Booster Club, and the Alumni Association. He also served on the Sioux Empire Fair Board and was a member of the American Legion.

Harold and Fern were charter members and faithful supporters of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. He served on the Board of Deacons for seven years, the Board of Education for another six, was Chairman of the Board of Trustees for five years and taught Sunday School for fifteen years. He was a delegate from the South Dakota District to three American Lutheran Church national conventions.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Barbara Thomas and her husband, Ron, Spartanburg, SC, Tom Ersland and his wife, Jane, Normal, IL, and Mary Ford and her husband, Mark, Henderson, NV; nine grandchildren, Kristen Zeller and her husband, Kevin, Alison Redd and her husband, Michael, Matthew Thomas and his wife, Emily, Ian Thomas, Scott Ersland and his wife, Amy, Todd Ersland, Chris Ford and his wife, Emma, Katie Morley and her husband, CJ, Cory Ford; 15 great-grandchildren, Mack, Ellee, and Charlie Ford, Leila, Reese, and Finn Redd, Zachary, Owen, and Anna Fern Zeller, Cooper, Parker, and Griffin Thomas, Lainey and Leah Ersland, Whit Morley; three sisters, Marelyn Everson, Pauline Westre and Eunice Rud; and many nieces and nephews. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and a great friend to many. He will be dearly missed. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Fern, his parents, Thomas and Christine, brother Thomas, Jr., and sister LaVonne Prieb, nephew Tim Westre, great-nephew Tim Westre, Jr., great-niece, Raven Rud, and brothers & sisters-in-law. Memorials may be directed to Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota or the Alzheimer’s Association.

George Boom Funeral Home - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
http://www.georgeboom.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1507037