The Funeral Service for Harold Kvale, age 96 of Lemmon, will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, August 15, 2014 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon with Pastor Bob Edwards and Charlotte Kvale, officiating.

Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery with full military honors afforded by the Smith-Lyman American Legion Post #279 of Thunder Hawk.

A family service will be held at 11:00AM on Friday morning at Calvary Lutheran Church.

Serving as casketbearers are his nieces and nephews.

JOHN HAROLD KVALE "Harold" was born 29 August 1917 on the Albright homestead in Dewitt Township, Perkins Co., SD to John and Hazel (Albright) Kvale. At an early age, his parents moved to the Kvale homestead in Corson County. Harold attended rural Paris school through the 8th grade and graduated from Lemmon High School with the Class of 1936.

In January of 1937, he joined the CCC's and was assigned to a camp near Hill City, SD where he worked on a tree thinning crew. In April he returned home to help his parents on the farm. In September of 1937, he again joined the CCC's and was assigned to a camp at Sand Lake north of Aberdeen, SD. In April of 1938, he again returned home to farm with his father and brother. On 14 April 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps and assigned to an advanced twin engine flying school near Lubbock, TX. After completing basic training, he worked on the lines maintaining and servicing aircrafts. After a year on the lines, he applied for, and after certification, was appointed a cadet for flight training as a pilot. He received his Wings and Commission as a 2nd Lt on the 8th February 1944. Harold was assigned to HAAF base at Harlingen, TX for Co-pilot transition training in the Liberation B-24 bomber. After completion of transition training, he was assigned to a crew at Lincoln, NE. His crew went through Combat Crew Training at CAAF, Casper, WY and assigned to the 8th AAF in England where they were re-assigned to the 15th AAF in Italy because more crews were needed. During his 9 months and 13 days of overseas service, Harold was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was honorably discharged from active duty on 17th November 1945, but remained a member of the active reserve for a number of years.

Harold again began farming with this father and brother. He was active in community affairs serving on the township board of supervisors for more than 20 years. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Farmer Coop Assn. of Thunder Hawk and served as Secretary-Treasurer of the board for nearly 10 years. He was also an elected member of the Thunder Hawk ASC District. Harold became a member of the American Lutheran Church (Calvary Lutheran) of Lemmon on March 31, 1946. He was an active member serving several terms as a trustee and deacon and served as assistant treasurer of the congregation for about six years. He was also a member of the Smith-Lyman American Legion Post #279 of Thunder Hawk.

He enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and debating issues, especially when it came to politics. He attended the weekly sales at Lemmon Livestock.

Harold retired in the fall of 2005 and moved into Lemmon. When his health began to fail, he resided in the Assisted Living at Five Counties and then later on entered the nursing home. Harold passed from this life there on Sunday, August 10, 2014.

Surviving family members include his 2 sisters, Irene Young and Thelma Lemke, and a sister-in-law, Belle Kvale, all of Lemmon, SD; nieces and nephews, Carolyn (Jerry) Petik, Richard (Jonetta) Kvale, Dale (Mary) Kvale, Tim (Charlotte) Kvale, Bev (Tim) Holdahl, Don Lemke, Russ Lemke, and Jean (Owen) Haas; and special friends Connie Skinner and Daryl Johnson; and grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 brother, Norman Kvale; 2 brothers-in-law, Rollin Young and Bill Lemke; and a great nephew, Jason Haas; and special friend Clarice Johnson.

Visitation will be on Thursday from 1:00 to 9:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Friday from 10:00 to 2:00 at Calvary Lutheran Church.