Harold Flatmoe, 93, of Meadow passed away at his home near Meadow on December 2, 2023.
Funeral services were held December 9, 2023 at the Coal Springs Community Church south of Meadow. Burial was in the Chance Cemetery.
Harold Gordon Flatmoe was born in Lemmon on February 16, 1930 to Christopher and Petra (Kornstad) Flatmoe with a midwife attending the birth. He joined four older siblings: Hanna, Ingrid, Clara, and Iver, and was the first Flatmoe born on American soil as his family had immigrated from Oppdal, Norway to Perkins County in 1929.
Harold was brought home to his grandma and step-grandpa Gustafson’s home near Coal Springs, where the family was living in humble conditions while they got their start in this new country. Harold loved his Grandpa Charlie Gustafson. He was Grandpa’s shadow. Perhaps it was Charlie’s quiet, mellow demeanor that made such a lifelong impact on Harold’s own personality. The family lived on a variety of places in the Coal Springs community, until they purchased a piece of land and started their own farm about a mile from the Coal Springs general store.
Brother, Kenneth, completed the family in 1936. That year also found Harold starting his formal education at the Coal Springs School. Most of his years, Harold walked 2 ½ miles to school. In the early years, it was a struggle to keep up with his longlegged siblings.
Harold and Verna Martin were the 8th grade graduates from the Coal Springs School in the spring of 1944. He started high school that fall in Lemmon, but his school career was cut short when he returned home at the end of the first semester to help his dad with milking the cows while his mother recuperated from leg surgery. Harold spent the next several years working for area farms and ranches. One of his more interesting jobs was when he and Bobby Munyon trailed 100 head of lambs from the Coal Springs community to the stockyards in Faith. They slept on the ground for two nights and really had a time of it to get the lambs to cross the Moreau River.
He worked for C. H. Lein hauling gravel and oil on Highways 20, 73, 212, and 85. He also worked as a mechanic’s assistant during the construction of the Oahe Dam at Pierre. His wages ranged from $1/ hour to $1.25/hour.
At the age of 21 he joined the Navy. After four weeks at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center he returned home with an honorable medical discharge. He was welcomed back by the love of his life, Lillian Rosenau.
He returned to the Coal Springs
February 16, 1930 — December 2, 2023
area and rented the Miller place. On August 21, 1955, Harold and Lillian were married at the Coal Springs Church and began their lifelong dream of farming and ranching and raising a family. In 1959, they bought the Elvia Veal place. Later they added the neighboring Kermit Ogdahl place to their farm.
Harold started his spiritual journey as a young man when he and Lillian attended a crusade in Lemmon. When the altar call was given, Harold went forward. He is quoted as saying “I will always remember that night when I accepted the Lord as my personal Savior, and it changed my life.”
Through the years, Harold, Bruce, and Brian developed a life-long passion for restoring antique tractors. In the 1990’s a local club was formed of which Harold was a charter member. Harold loved the Coal Springs Threshing Show and enjoyed spending time in the building that housed the Flatmoe collection. He also served on the Rancher’s Camp Board, the Chance Township Board, and the Board of Directors for the Lemmon Co-op.
In 2008, daughters Barb and Becky convinced Harold and Lillian that they needed to take a trip to Norway to see where his family roots had come from. The trip turned into a family affair for Harold, Lillian and all four of their kids.
Harold is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lillian; his children: Bruce (Kim) Flatmoe of Burnsville MN, Brian (Gloria) Flatmoe and Barbara (Pat) Clark of Meadow, and Rebecca (John) Paul of Faith; 13 grandchildren and19 great-grandchildren; his sister, Clara Duncan; and his sisterin-law, Charlotte Flatmoe.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings: Hanna, Ingrid, Iver, and Kenneth; granddaughter, Carrie; and a special sister-in-law, Ruth Rosenau.
A memorial has been established for the Coal Springs Community Church and the Coal Springs Community Antique Club.
Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.