Harvey Hochhalter, 85, Valley City, North Dakota, passed away Monday, October 21, 2024, in Sanford Medical Center, Fargo.

The funeral service in Valley City will be 2:00 PM CT, Saturday, October 26 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Visitation will be on Friday from 5:00-7:00 PM CT with a prayer service at 7:00 PM CT at the church.

A funeral service will be held in Lemmon, South Dakota 1:00 PM MT, Monday, October 28 with visitation one hour before at Evanson Jensen Funeral Home followed by burial at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.

Harvey Lee Hochhalter was born to Theodore and Bertha Hochhalter on August 12, 1939, in Yakima, WA. His parents had temporarily relocated to WA in search of employment during the "Great Depression" but returned to the prairies of ND to farm and be near family in the spring of 1940. Harvey attended a one-room country school through 8th grade and graduated from Lemmon HS in 1957. He attended SDSC in Brookings, SD, for Engineering for one year and then farmed with his father before he started working for First National Bank in Lemmon, SD.

Harvey married his high school sweetheart, Carol Ann Hagen, on June 25, 1961. For their honeymoon, they drove their new Mercury on a trip of a lifetime to Niagara Falls, NYC, and Washington DC. The two-week trip cost $641.00.

In January 1963, they moved to Cooperstown, ND, where Harvey worked as an Insurance Agency Manager and Assistant Cashier at First State Bank. In October of 1973, Harvey transferred to Valley City and served as First National Bank Assistant VP and Insurance Agency Manager, including, for a brief time, managing insurance agencies in Litchville and Casselton. Through the years, he received several awards for his accomplishments in insurance, including serving as state president of Independent Insurance Agents of ND. In 2002, he retired after 42 years of banking and insurance sales.

Harvey was active in the community and belonged to many organizations, serving in many positions, including Jaycee's (served as President), Eagles (member for 49 years), Kiwanis (41 years), Elks, the Barnes Country Museum Board (6 years), and supported VCSU's V-500 Scholarship Program. In 2023, he was Parade Marshall for the Valley City Community Days Parade and received the Chamber of Commerce Hi-Line Award for decades of outstanding community service.

Through the years, his activities included obtaining his pilot's license and becoming part owner of a Piper plane, joining a bowling league, serving on the church council, and participating in his sons' Boy Scouts. He learned to golf and was passionate about the game for over 50 years, even experiencing the satisfaction of a hole-in-one in 1996. Harvey and Carol enjoyed fishing and camping with friends.

Over the years, Harvey and Carol took trips with their children to the East and West coasts, Disney World, Niagara Falls, Washington DC, several national parks, and skiing in MT and CO. For their 50th anniversary, they went to Alaska, fulfilling their goal of traveling to all 50 states. They also toured internationally, on a riverboat cruise on the Danube through 6 countries, went to Switzerland, Jamaica, Ireland, Mexico, and Canada, and took a trip to connect with Carol's relatives in Norway.

Harvey cherished his grandchildren, attending their sporting events, band and choir concerts, dance performances, and plays. His grandsons rekindled his love of hunting and fishing again in his retirement.

Harvey's solid Christian faith guided him with integrity and a generous spirit. Growing up on a farm, Harvey had a "fix anything" attitude and was always willing to help his children with their projects long into adulthood. He will be remembered for his good-natured humor and gentle spirit and will be sorely missed.

Harvey passed away on Monday, October 21, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND, surrounded by his wife, children, and family.

He is preceded in death by his family: Theodore Hochhalter, Bertha Hochhalter, and brother Lane Hochhalter.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, children, Deanna (Hal) Weiser, David (Diane) Hochhalter, Scott Hochhalter (Kevin Hemping), and grandchildren, Landon Weiser, Carter (Danika) Weiser, Theodore, Leah, and August Hochhalter.

Harvey's friends and family are encouraged to sign his online guestbook.