HAROLD HERBERT SAVALOJA
Harold Herbert Savaloja was born Oct. 8, 1928, in Sebeka, MN, to John & Selma (Wirkkala) Savaloja. He graduated from Sebeka High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army during the end of World War II and the Korean War. He was an avid trapper and fur buyer up until the time of his death. His passion for trapping started at the age of 12. He married Shirley Erckenbrack on Feb. 24, 1952, in Wadena, MN. Harold and Shirley lived the first part of their married life in Wadena, then moved to Deerwood in 1958. Harold worked as a District Sales Manager of Circulation for the Minneapolis Star & Tribune for 33 years. He enjoyed trapping and being out in the woods, any sporting event, especially at tournament times, family holidays and get-togethers and any party for others, just not for himself.
Harold is survived by his wife of 60 plus years, Shirley; two sons and daughter-in-law, John and Ginny Crosby and Bruce of Wamego, KS; three daughters and son-in-laws, Linda and Bud Nelson of Deerwood, Cathy and John Vidmar, of Buffalo, and Peggy and Dale Rosier of Grand Rapids; grandchildren Valerie Leonard, Reed Leonard, Michelle Bliss, Carl Vidmar, Lee Vidmar, Randi Vidmar, Jesse Anderson, Jeremy Savaloja, Isiah Savaloja, Kelli Savaloja, Camille Ecklund, Danielle McSharry, Paul Rosier, Kerissa Rosier, Erin Erickson and Pat Raverty; great-grandchildren Alex, Caleb, Wesley, Matthew, Haylie, Jaxsin, Brailee, Beau, Sheena, Hope, Sawyer, Maya and Emma; brother Ray and Bev Savaloja, of Hampshire, IL; four sister-in-laws Ellie Schorsch, of Hampshire, IL, Lois Shaleen, of Vermilion, MN, Mary Ann Erckenbrack, of Wadena, MN, and Pat Savaloja, of Orangevalle, CA; and many nephews and nieces.
Harold was preceded in death by two sons, Terry in 1992 and Mark in 2003; his parents; five brothers, Arthur, Reuben, George, Kenneth and Benhardt; and two sisters, Ruth Hepokoski and Bernice Sarkela.
