1923
Harold
2016
Harold Madson
May 20, 1923 — February 7, 2016
Harold Madson, husband of 73 years to Dorothy Madson and father of Paul, Jeannie, Susy and Jane, grandfather to 10 and great-grandfather to 10, died on February 7th 2016, in Petaluma, California, where he had lived for two years.
Harold grew up in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1941. After that, he worked in Los Angeles in the aircraft industry for Lockheed and Boeing aircraft companies. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force in January of 1943 and earned a commission as Second Lieutenant and a pilot qualified for single and multi-engine aircraft. He spent the balance of his active duty flying bombardier-training missions, flying cargo gliders and towing gliders on training missions in the Texas and Missouri area.
After the end of World War II and discharge from the U.S. Army Air Force, Harold attended North Dakota State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Following graduation, he worked for Westinghouse Company for 10 years in the Minot, N.D. area.
In 1958 Harold joined J.O. Stolee of Grand Forks and J.L. Thompson of Fargo as a partner of Thompson Stolee Company, which later became Border States Electric Supply Company. In 1961, the family moved to Fargo where Harold became President of the company, and retired in 1985 as Chairman of the Board. At the time of his retirement the company had grown to eight branches in a tri-state area and has since grown to some 80 locations in the central and western regions of the U.S.
Harold and Dorothy spent nearly 30 winters in Sedona, Arizona, a place they dearly loved.
Upon retirement in 1985 Harold became a farmer. He farmed his ancestral land in the Halstad and Ada area of Minnesota with the Tim Anderson family. They sold out this operation and retired “for sure.”
Harold was married to the former Dorothy Peterson of Fargo and they recently celebrated 73 years of marriage. He leaves Dorothy, son, Paul (Sharon), daughters Susan Westerholm of Omaha and Jane McDonald of Petaluma, California. A daughter, Jeannie preceded Harold in death. Harold also leaves 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren (one on the way) and brother Glenn of Naples, Florida. He was preceded in death by brothers Wesley, William, John, and sister Margaret.
A memorial service for Harold will be held at a later date in Fargo.
Harold grew up in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1941. After that, he worked in Los Angeles in the aircraft industry for Lockheed and Boeing aircraft companies. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force in January of 1943 and earned a commission as Second Lieutenant and a pilot qualified for single and multi-engine aircraft. He spent the balance of his active duty flying bombardier-training missions, flying cargo gliders and towing gliders on training missions in the Texas and Missouri area.
After the end of World War II and discharge from the U.S. Army Air Force, Harold attended North Dakota State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Following graduation, he worked for Westinghouse Company for 10 years in the Minot, N.D. area.
In 1958 Harold joined J.O. Stolee of Grand Forks and J.L. Thompson of Fargo as a partner of Thompson Stolee Company, which later became Border States Electric Supply Company. In 1961, the family moved to Fargo where Harold became President of the company, and retired in 1985 as Chairman of the Board. At the time of his retirement the company had grown to eight branches in a tri-state area and has since grown to some 80 locations in the central and western regions of the U.S.
Harold and Dorothy spent nearly 30 winters in Sedona, Arizona, a place they dearly loved.
Upon retirement in 1985 Harold became a farmer. He farmed his ancestral land in the Halstad and Ada area of Minnesota with the Tim Anderson family. They sold out this operation and retired “for sure.”
Harold was married to the former Dorothy Peterson of Fargo and they recently celebrated 73 years of marriage. He leaves Dorothy, son, Paul (Sharon), daughters Susan Westerholm of Omaha and Jane McDonald of Petaluma, California. A daughter, Jeannie preceded Harold in death. Harold also leaves 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren (one on the way) and brother Glenn of Naples, Florida. He was preceded in death by brothers Wesley, William, John, and sister Margaret.
A memorial service for Harold will be held at a later date in Fargo.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Harold Madson, please visit our flower store.
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