Harold Widvey, 92, of Brookings, passed away on Monday, December 14, 2020, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview.  A private family funeral service will be held on Monday, December 21, 2020, at Eidsness Funeral Home beginning at 11:00 A.M.  The service will be live streamed on the Eidsness Funeral Home website for those wishing to view the service from home. Burial will follow the service at Hillside Cemetery in Lily, South Dakota at 2:30 p.m.  A public visitation without family present will be held from 2-4 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home on Sunday, December 20, 2020.  Masks are required at all services.

Harold was born on the family farm near Andover, South Dakota where he spent his early days going to school through his sophomore year.  He then worked on the farm and took the opportunity to become an electrician as apprentice to his uncle Svend Widney because that was the time when the Rural Electric system was being set up in rural South Dakota.  Harold did not stay long at this work because in the early 1950s he was drafted into the Army due to the Korean War conflict.  On his return to Andover he took advantage of the Veteran's Administration program for continued education.  He passed the GED and entered college at Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  While there Harold was active in the speech and debate program and active as well in student government where in his Senior year he was elected Student body President.  He graduated with his Degree in 1957. His first teaching position was in Beardsley, Minnesota teaching Speech and English.  Harold met Lois Hazelton from Lily while attending Northern.  She was simply the love of his life. They were married in June of 1958 and were together for 53 years until her death in 2011.  They were best friends and enjoyed everything together.  Harold finished his Masters at Northern in 1961 and his Doctorate in 1971 at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The bulk of his teaching was done at Northern State as Speech and Debate professor in the 60s and at SDSU as Speech, Debate, and Rhetoric Professor from the early 70s to the early 90s. Harold was active in COHE/SDEA/NEA as well as the college level speech and debate national fraternity, PI KAPPA DELTA.  Harold served as Executive Secretary of the national organization for many years and developed the computer program used for registering all members in the country.

Harold had so many interests and accomplishments outside of teaching.  He was the architect and builder for his dream home, he was an electrician, an accomplished photographer, a creative cabinet builder, built his own seven foot speakers for his music equipment, was active in politics, he taught classes and helped groups start investment clubs, he served his church, Ascension Lutheran for many years, and he was a member of the American Legion.  Harold and Lois were auction sale mavens and they loved collecting and their rummage sales were famous.  He was known for his generosity toward others and he will be forever known as a very fine man.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Anerth and Anne Widvey, wife, Lois Widvey, Sisters, Eleanor (Robert) Lapham, Ardath (Norman) May. Survivors are brothers, Norman and Janet (Erickson) Widvey, John and Jessica (Sundahl) Widvey.  Inlaws would include Lowell and Roxie Hazelton and Robert and Lavonne (Hazelton) Johnson.  Harold is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, Harold's family requests that memorial donations be made to Feeding Brookings or Lutheran Social Services.

Feeding Brookings Direct Donation Link

Feeding Brookings C/O Ascension Lutheran Church
2030 3rd St.
Brookings, SD 57006

Lutheran Social Service Direct Donation Link

Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota
705 East 41st Street, Suite 200
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6048