Hiram Sirjord

Hiram J. Sirjord, 81, died peacefully Saturday, September 8, 2018, after losing his courageous battle in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Hiram is survived by his wife of 51 years, Harriet Sirjord, Andover, MN; sons, Stewart (Mindy) Sirjord, Andover, MN, Andrew (Jean) Sirjord, Little Elm, TX, Robert Leverett, Haslet, TX, and daughter Valli (Tim) Cleven, Andover, MN. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Ella and Emma Sirjord, Tracie (Chris) Mastley, Tamara (Brett) Ward, Shawn, John and Sam O’Connell, Chris (Kara) Koerner and Ricky Arnasilia; great-grandchildren, Olivia Ward, Grayson and Aiden Mastley; sisters, Vivian Johnson, Sonja Nelson and Altha Spaeth, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Hiram was born July 12, 1937, in Norman County Minnesota to parents Harold and Thora (Svenby) Sirjord. He was baptized and confirmed in the congregation of the Lutheran Church in Gary-Rindal. He spent his childhood on the family farm near Gary, Minnesota and graduated from Gary High School in 1955 where he enjoyed playing basketball and football. Hiram farmed with his father before being drafted into the Army, where he served in Germany during peacetime. Upon his return, he returned to farming for a few years until moving to Fargo to attend Interstate Business College, where he graduated with an AA degree in accounting.

Hiram married Harriet (Lesetmoe Leverett) in 1967 and the family made their home in Fargo until moving to Moorhead in 1975. Hiram worked road construction before joining the Fargo Post Office as a letter carrier. During his 30+ year career with the postal service he was an active member of the Letter Carrier’s Union. Hiram continued his military service as a member of the Minnesota National Guard, retiring after 21 years. He was a member of Moorhead’s American Legion Post 21 and Fargo’s AMVETS post 7.

In retirement, Hiram pursed his passion for golf as a ranger at the Ponderosa Golf Course and later for hockey, working at the Moorhead Youth Hockey Association where he loved to watch young players develop their skills through the years. Hiram spent 15 years with MYHA and was a proud supporter of Moorhead’s Youth Hockey.

Hiram was a life-long lover of hunting and sports. Come fall, “Deer Camp” with his sons, nieces and nephews was an annual highlight for him. He played softball for many years in the Fargo-Moorhead area and later enjoyed attending F-M Redhawks’ games. He also loved a good game of Pinochle and played weekly with friends during his postal days. Hiram liked travelling throughout the United States, especially the vacation adventures he and Harriet enjoyed with Harriet’s sisters and brother-in-law. One of Hiram’s travel highlights was a Caribbean cruise in 2010, with his children and their families.

While in Fargo, Hiram was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. After the move to Moorhead, he became an active member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Moorhead, leading the ushering team for a number of years as well as contributing to the care of the church landscaping.

Hiram was a man who loved the simple pleasures of life, especially the time he spent with family. He was a devoted husband to the love of his life, Harriet, and a loving, wise, patient, generous and unfailingly kind father to his children. He delighted in his grandchildren, taking pride in their accomplishments and was interested in each of them as individuals. No words can express how deeply this dear, wonderful man will be missed by his family. He was our rock.

Hiram is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Thora Sirjord; step-mother, Elaine Sirjord; sister, Thelma Lindberg; daughter-in-law, Sandy Leverett and grandson, Shane Cleven.