Harold Estenson
Services were held August 7, 2026, in Devils Lake, N.D., for Harold Estenson of Devils Lake, and formerly of Sarles, who passed away August 1, 2026, at his home under the care of his family and HIA hospice. There will be a burial at the Sarles Cemetery at a later date.
Harold was born June 4th, 1936, to Herman and Marie (Oakland) Estenson in Glasgow, Montana, while his dad was working on construction of the Fort Peck Dam. He was the 3rd of 7 children. He was raised on the family farm near Sarles and graduated from Sarles High School in 1954. Harold married his high school sweetheart, Janet Hendrickson, on June 21, 1958, at the Sarles Lutheran Church, and they had recently celebrated 68 years of marriage and working side by side on their farm.
Together they raised 3 children: Don, Nancy and Mark.
Harold loved sharing family time together farming, camping, hunting, fishing, attending or watching sporting events and traveling. He went on to find the same joy in sharing those experiences and memories with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. He also enjoyed playing cards, cribbage and games.
Harold lived a life of hard work which included farming, construction, custom combining and fixing or repairing all things that needed fixing.
He valued service to his country and community and was a proud member of the Sarles American Legion after serving in the ND National Guard. It was an important project he most recently worked on to get the veterans memorial completed in the Sarles town square. He also served on the Border Central School Board and as bus transportation director, Sarles Community Club, the UTMA Board of Directors, NDTC Board of Directors and North Plains Utility Company Board of Directors. He was a past member of the Elks and Masonic Lodge. He gained many lifelong friends and maintained those relationships until his passing. He loved visiting with his family, his 5 siblings and their children, friends from the Sarles area and anyone new he met.
He was always up for a celebration or party.
He is survived by his wife, Janet; children: Don (Donna) Estenson, Nancy (Jim) Carlson and Mark (Susan) Estenson; grandchildren: Randina (Mike) Bjornstad, Evan (Karleen) Estenson, Jayme Carlson, Jenna (Kris) Donovan, Brady (Brenna) Carlson, Jared Estenson, Karli (Mason) Laber, and Kayla Estenson; great-grandchildren: Mic Bjornstad (Maddi), Josie Estenson and Zach Estenson (Brianna), Karter, Landon and Liam Donovan, Bristol and Baylor Carlson, August and Oliver Estenson and Kayden Laber; siblings: Maxine Martin, Viv (Tom) Yon, Roberta Price, Connie (Brent) Johnston and Jerry (Colleen) Estenson; sister-in-law Beverly Curtis and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by parents Herman and Marie Estenson; infant brother Donald; father-in-law and mother-in-law Ralph and Leona Hendrickson; brothers-in-law: Marvin Stenson, Bud Martin, Dennis Price, Ralph Jr. and John Hendrickson; and sister-in-law Kathy Hendrickson.
Funeral arrangements were by Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.