Jerome Hollis Orvik, age 87, passed away at Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center on Thursday, October 19, 2023, in Hillsboro, ND.
Jerome was born on June 7, 1936, to Palmer and Anne Josephine Orvik in Halstad, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church of Shelly, MN. Jerome attended Cheerful Hut Country School and Halstad High School, where he graduated in 1954. After graduation, Jerome worked for American Crystal Sugar in Crookston, in construction building local swimming pools, at a meatpacking plant in West Fargo, and later, in 1958, farmed with his brother, Roger.
In 1961, Jerome was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served almost 2 years in Germany as part of the Third Battalion, 76th Artillery Division, where he received a medal for marksmanship. After that, he came back to the United States and was active in the Army Reserves until his honorable discharge in 1967.
In the summer of 1966, Jerome met the love of his life, Hazel Jennie Ulriksen. On April 15, 1967, they were married at Alliance Church in Parry, Saskatchewan, Canada. They made their home on a farm near Shelly and raised four children. Jerome farmed most of his life with his brother Roger and retired from farming in 1995. During this time, he also worked at the Crookston beet plant in the late 1960s & 1970s. He later worked at the Hillsboro beet plant from 1990-2002 and helped area farmers in the spring and fall.
Jerome was known for his quick smile, kindness, and gentle humor. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and beloved dog, Becky. Jerome enjoyed making his grandchildren laugh with his silly faces and funny phrases. Farming was Jerome’s passion in life, as evidenced by his toy farm tractor collection, his penchant for going for a drive to check out the area crops, and his love of watching RFD-TV, especially when the tractor auctions were on.
Jerome was preceded in death by his wife Hazel, parents Palmer & Anne Josephine Orvik, sister Darlene Vettel, brother Roger Orvik, and grandsons Tanner, Nicholas, and Elijah.
Jerome will be remembered by his son Paul (Khristina) of West Fargo, ND; son Todd of Bloomington, MN; daughter Nola of Minnetonka, MN; daughter Kami of Eden Prairie, MN; two granddaughters, Twilight Orvik & Lillie Gish; one step-grandson Bobby (Samantha) Laughery; two step-great grandchildren Kalli & Michael; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, Rural Shelly, MN.
Celebration of Life Service: 2:00 PM, Friday, November 10, 2023, at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Halstad, MN.
Visitation: One hour before the celebration service at the funeral home.
Inurnment: Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Shelly, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.fredriksonfh.com
Arrangements with Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Homes
Ada & Halstad, Minnesota
