Harvey Duane Kyllo

Harvey Duane Kyllo, 82, of Mayville, ND died peacefully at his home, Saturday, February 18, 2012 surrounded by his family following a long fight with cancer, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Harvey was born in rural Hatton, ND, to Edwin and Bernice (Nelson) Kyllo on August 9, 1929. He attended elementary school at Greenfield School, and high school at Galesburg, ND and Oak Grove, Fargo, ND. Harvey was drafted in to the US Army October 1951. He served his basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He married the love of his life, Sylvia Olstad of Galesburg, ND on March 28, 1952 at Elm River Lutheran Church in Galesburg. He left 10 days later to serve in the Korean War until July 1953. He became Corporal US 55-142-055 and served in the Company C 84th Engineering Construction Battalion. His battalion helped build the Freedom Gate Bridge in Korea. Harvey earned the Korean Service Medal, 2 Bronze Stars and US Battalion Medal. After returning home they lived in Grand Forks, ND, until 1956 when they bought a farm near Clifford, ND. Besides farming, he operated cat and scraper for the Traill County Soil Conservation District. In 1961 they bought his Uncle Bennie’s farm near Blanchard, ND. His loves were family and farming. Harvey and Sylvia, and family, worked the fields together until he had a heart attack in 1992. He then semi-retired, with his sons continuing to operate the family farm. Harvey’s hobbies were collecting antique tractors and woodworking. He loved buying two cylinder John Deere tractors and together with his sons restored them. Harvey, along with his children and grandchildren, drove the tractors proudly in many parades and displayed them at events in the area. He created many woodworking gifts for his family and friends. Harvey served on the Galesburg Elevator Board, the West Traill Soil Conservation Board, the Greenfield Township Board, and the Stordahl Lutheran Church Council. He belonged to the American Legion, Mayville VFW and Fargo Eagles. In 1997, they built a home in Mayville, ND, to be close to their grandchildren’s school and attended many of their activities. Harvey and Sylvia enjoyed spending family time at the lake and several winters in Arizona, making many forever friends. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Sylvia, of 59 years; daughter Kriss (Dean) Erickson of Galesburg, ND; two sons, Kevin (Kimberly) and Steve (Jodi) both of Blanchard, ND; eight grandchildren, Nicholas (Danielle), Adam (Ashley) and Matthew Erickson, Kaelin, Jeffrey and Joni Kyllo, and Ethan and Jocelyn Kyllo; three great-grandchildren, Noelle and Nyla Erickson and Brogen Erickson; two brothers and two sisters, Bernie (Frances) Kyllo of Bismarck, ND, Darlene (Howard) Rensvold of Fargo, ND, Ronnie (Ilene) Kyllo of Galesburg, ND, and Bonnie (Gary) Erickson of Mayville, ND; sisters-in-law, Helen (Ralph) Punton of Absaraka, ND and Marcy (James) Bubb of Alvarado, MN; brothers-in-law, Douglas (Myrna) Olstad of Valley City, ND, Donald (Janice) Olstad of Galesburg, ND, and Duane (Diane) Bring of Galesburg, ND; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were an infant son and infant daughter; parents, Edwin and Bernice Kyllo; parents-in-law, Pauli and Alma Olstad; sister-in-law, Connie Bring; brother-in-law, Tom Ritland; and nephews, Robert and Shane Erickson. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Stordahl Lutheran Church or Hospice of the Red River Valley. Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at Stordahl Lutheran Church, rural Galesburg, ND. Visitation: Will be from 4:00–7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at Stordahl Lutheran Church, rural Galesburg, ND and will resume one hour prior to the funeral service on Wednesday. Burial: Stordahl Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Galesburg, ND.