Harold Rivinius, 91, Elgin, died October 1, 2017, at Augusta Place (formerly Good Samaritan Home) in Bismarck, ND, where he had been residing for the past two years.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 6, 2017, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor Brian Knutson and Pastor Dick Smith will officiate with burial to follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Thursday, October 5th at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin, with a family service to start at 7pm.


Harold Rivinius, the youngest child of Carl and Rosina (Seidler) Rivinius was born September 20, 1926, on his parents' homestead southeast of Elgin. He attended elementary school at Cowan School District #2 and graduated from Elgin High School in 1945. He served in the National Guard for several years.

Harold was united in marriage to Delores Anita Schock on August 16, 1953. They lived on the family homestead where they raised their family. Harold and Delores were grain and dairy farmers, retiring in 1992. They continued to live on the farm until the summer of 1998 when they moved their house to Elgin. Harold also performed custom welding and machinery repair work and custom corn chopping. As a farmer, he often designed and fabricated his own machinery. He began a second career at the age of 72 when he obtained his commercial driver's license and drove truck for his son's business, Glenn Rivinius Trucking.

Harold was an active member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and participated in many of its activities including teaching Sunday school and serving on the church council. He was faithful to his Lord and always considered Sunday to be a day of rest. On Sunday afternoons, he routinely played hymns on the organ, which he played by ear. In his later years, he looked forward to a local weekly men's Bible study. Harold and Delores instilled the love of God and the importance of family into their children. Harold enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, and most recently took delight in his great-grandchildren. He enjoyed birdwatching, gardening, tending to his yard, and reading, particularly the Bible. His family is comforted that he is in the hands of his Lord and with his great love, Delores.

He is survived by five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren: Virginia; Eugene "Gene" (Bev), their children, Jill (Casey) Gruman, their children Abbey and James, and Scott Rivinius (his fiancé, Nicole Stadick); Tim (Bernie), their children, Candace and Christopher, all of Bismarck; Glenn (Kay), their children, Chandler, Nicholas, and Kayedenn, all of Elgin; and Vicki (Dave) Dalager, Warroad, MN; three sisters-in-law, Alma Rivinius, Bismarck; Loretta Schulz, New Leipzig; and Marion (Bill) Goetz, Bismarck; one brother-in-law, Martin (Marjorie) Schock, New Leipzig; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Delores, in 2004; infant son, Donald; his parents; his brothers, Rubert, Salomon "Sam", and Theodore "Ted"; and sisters Alvina (Emanual) Wutzke, Johanna (Art) Bruhn, and Alice "Martha" Iszler.

A memorial has been established.