On December 27th, 2024, the world lost a wonderful father, grandfather, brother and friend. Harold David Haivala, 87 of Belle Fourche, SD passed away at the Spearfish Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Irene (Bell).
Harry was born on January 23, 1937 to Gus and Muriel Haivala of Buffalo, SD. He was the third son of nine children. After graduating from Buffalo High School, Harry joined the Air Force and married Irene in 1959. Their first son, Marty was born in 1961 in Spearfish, and Bryan was born in Phillip in 1965. The family soon moved to Belle Fouche, South Dakota where they lived for more than 50 years.
Harry was a dedicated game warden with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department for 30 years. He began in Phillip, but spent most of his law enforcement career in Belle Fourche. He joined the South Dakota National Guard and climbed the ranks to retire as a Command Sergeant Major. His long military service took him to Germany, South Korea, Jamacia and Panama. After retirement, Harry became a part-time realtor with Century 21 for several years.
Harry loved to hunt and fish. He always had the freezer stocked with wild turkey, pheasant, deer and elk. He served as a firefighter on the Belle Fourche Volunteer Fire department. He was member of the Belle Fourche Lions Club and volunteered on the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo Committee as Head of Security. Harry was a past President of the South Dakota Peace Officers Association, and later in life he gave tours at the Johnny Spaulding Cabin at the Tri-State Museum.
After Harry retired for good, he and Irene spent winters in Mesa, Arizona, and enjoyed golfing, biking and socializing with friends from the United States and Canada.
Harry was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and brothers, Paul, Kenny, Lenny, Jim and John. He is survived by his sons Marty (Carey) and Bryan (Kathy) and his grandchildren Jake, Sam, Sadie, Abby, and Daniel, and his sisters Mona Nussbaum and Leone Billmeyer and brother Gene Haivala.
Funeral services will be held at 11am Saturday, February 1, 2025 at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche, 717 Jackson Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Harry Haivala Memorial Fund (2417 N. 2nd St. Spearfish, SD 57783). Any money received will be divided between the Belle Fourche Volunteer Fire Department and the Spearfish Veteran’s Monument.
The funeral will be livestreamed and can be viewed on Harry’s obituary page at klinefuneralchapel.com
An online guest book and video tribute will be available at klinefuneralchapel.com.
