Harold L. Orvis

HAROLD 'SONNY' LEROY ORVIS was born on August 27, 1933, to Claude LeRoy and Mabel (Muck) Orvis in Belfast Township of Murray County, MN. He attended country school through the eighth grade and spent his childhood in Slayton, MN. During his early years Harold drove truck. On August 29, 1952, Harold enlisted into the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean War. He received an honorable discharge from the military on August 28, 1956, and returned home to Slayton. On December 6, 1958, Harold was united in marriage to Dorothea Frese at Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. The couple made their homes in Kenneth, Amboy and rural Garvin, MN while Harold worked for various farmers. In 1985, Harold left farming and he and his family moved into Balaton, MN for a couple of years while he worked construction. They then moved to Lewisville, MN. Harold was employed at the Truman Farmers Elevator and did insulating work. In 1987, Harold began a job at Conastoga Wood in Mountain Lake, MN. He also started doing his own woodworking, restoring and repairing pieces of furniture. The family moved to Mountain Lake in 1988. Harold retired at the age of 67 in 1999. Dorothea preceded him in death on October 26, 2005. Following her death, Harold returned to Slayton, where he resided until moving to Luverne, MN in September 2014.

On Saturday, July 9, 2016, while at his home in Luverne, Harold peacefully went to be with his wife in Heaven.

Harold was a past member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, and most outdoor activities. Harold wasn’t afraid of much and got along with most everyone. He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s events and was very proud of each of them.

He is lovingly remembered by his six children, Lyle (Kathy) Herding of Hadley, MN, Gary (Kimberly) Orvis of CA, Carol (Doug) McClure of Luverne, Charlotte (Vincent) Thooft of Arco, MN, LeRoy (Susan) Orvis of Morgan, MN, and Bradley (Robin) Orvis of St. James, MN; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Brooks and Kay Warden of Marshall, MN; a brother-in-law, Dick Gaddis of Sioux Falls, SD; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothea; parents, Roy and Mabel; four sisters, Rosemary Kirk, Joyce Shelby, Pat Gaddis and Jackie Mitchell; and an infant brother.