Advertisement Joyce, 73, writes: “There are many people who make life better for others — and they do not expect any recognition. I think my husband is one of these people.” Jim, she says, will be 76 on Thursday.
Well, Jim, this is a sneaky way to recognize your good works and wish you a happy birthday.
Before I let tons of good work out of the bag, I must interject that while reading and rereading Joyce’s letter, it occurred to me the Halvorsons fit the proverbial “Behind every good man is a good woman.” I’m sure you’ll agree.
Jim and Joyce were Central High sweethearts, a courtship that has blossomed into a 53-year marriage. Joyce sums up the profound personal value of staying active.
“Because we both are active in our community, each day when we get up we have something to focus on. This keeps us young.”
Jim retired 10 years ago as chief pilot for Dairyland Power Co-op (about the time Joyce retired at Hintgen Elementary after 38 years as a teacher). It was in 1976 that the couple moved to their Holmen farm and became active in the community, continuing a tradition of helping out wherever they lived, wherever they could.
Jim is a 24-year member of the town of Holland board, president of the Holmen Volunteer Fire Department fire board and currently heads the Norskedalen board. He’s active in Holmen Lutheran Church, serving on the property committee, singing in the choir and with a quartet, and maintaining the church lawn. He takes these roles very seriously, still finding time for his family.
“Jim has always been interested in his Norwegian ancestry. His great-grandparents came to this area in 1848. So it was natural for him to volunteer at Norskedalen and give tours of the Norwegian homestead,” Joyce wrote. Together, the couple coordinates the Norskedalen threshing bee fundraiser in September.
In 1977, Joyce became interested in foreign exchange student work. Seeing what fun she was having, Jim joined her to become coordinators of Education Foundation for Foreign Study for the next 30 years. That year, the Halvorsons took in their first student, and have hosted 21 full-year students and 47 part-time students in their home. As coordinators, they have supervised more than 500 students from a variety of countries.
Their interests in Norskedalen and foreign students have carried over to the international makeup of North Woods International Elementary, where three or four times during the year, Jim and Joyce bring “Norwegian culture” to first-graders.
Throughout the year, they team up to deliver Meals on Wheels to senior citizens and visit the homebound.
Traveling on vacations far and wide — even when children Christine of Tampa, Fla., and Stephen of Holmen — were at home, the Halvorsons found their way to Europe nine times, some trips to attend weddings of foreign students. Each student once a part of their household is considered a Halvorson family member.
I called Joyce to ask about birthday plans for Jim. She could talk just a few minutes, as she was helping Jim prepare his annual report to the Norskedalen board.
Joyce knows her husband and understands that he does not seek attention, not even on his birthday. The Halvorsons and other family members observing birthdays, along with guests, will gather at a restaurant to celebrate. Hopefully this column will give the 15-member party someone special to talk about.
