Harold Rolfson
Harold “Hal” Rolfson, 80, of Rapid City, S.D., passed away peacefully on March 25, 2023, in Indio, Calif.
Hal was baptized, confirmed and spent most of his church life attending Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck. He served God in many church leadership roles. In later years, he served as an active Stephen Minister and Leader. In 2018, he had the honor of baptism in the Jordan River during a trip to Israel.
Hal was born and educated in Bismarck, spending most summers working with extended family in McKenzie County. There he learned farming, ranching and found his great love of the outdoors and God’s bountiful nature. He was an avid outdoorsman, spending many days fishing, hunting and hiking.
Hal graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. He studied in pre-seminary and majored in marine biology. There he met and married Betty Holtcamp.
Hal briefly worked for the Tacoma Employment Security Department. In 1967, he moved to Bismarck to join his father and brothers at N.C. Rolfson & Sons, Inc. He later became President and Chief Executive Officer of the family business.
Hal became interested in raising quarter horses due to his exposure to riding during his summers spent in McKenzie County. Hal, Betty and their girls took pleasure in raising, training, showing and selling prize quarter horses in the region.
After selling the family company, Hal joined Basin Electric Cooperative as a contract administrator in 1986. He also met Coreen at Basin and they married in 1989. They both retired in 1995 and traveled extensively.
Hal’s two favorite sayings? “If the fish is too big for the pan - throw it back!” And “Why worry? I know where I’m going - the streets are paved with gold and there’s a cabin with a stream full of 20” trout!” Hal had a 24-inch frying pan.
Hal was preceded in death by his mother, Lilly (Okland); father, Norman; and step-mother, Viola (Bohn).
He is survived by two brothers, Calvin of Mount Dora, Fla., and Larry of Bismarck; his wife, Coreen (Brodehl-Wold); daughters, Michelle (Froeber) and Kristine (Shea); stepsons, Micah and Anthony Wold; and grandchildren, Kaitlin and Madelyn; Shea, David and Michael Froeber; and step-granddaughters, Anna and Dani Lynn Wold.
His memorial service will be held on Aug. 11, 2023, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck at 2 p.m. CST followed by a graveside service at Fairview Cemetery. Following the graveside service there will be refreshments for friends and family at Parkway. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be contributed to the Abbott House of South Dakota, a safe house for at-risk children.
To share memories of Hal and sign the online guestbook, visit www.parkwayfuneral.com.