Orville Harrold

Orville Wayne Harrold passed away peacefully on Monday, January 31, 2022, surrounded by his family at Brookstone View. He was just two days away from his 99^th birthday.

Orville was born on February 2, 1923, in Ohiowa, Nebraska to Raymond Otis and Helen Mary (Fritchie) Harrold. When he was three years old, his family moved to a farm South of Broken Bow.

Orville loved horses. He cried the day he came home from school and found his dad had sold their four workhorses for a tractor. Shortly after, his father had a severe tractor accident. Orville spent the next year at the age of 13 taking care of the farm and his younger brothers while his dad was in the hospital and recuperating from the accident.

Orville attended several schools, including Swiss Valley, Round Valley, Gates and Broken Bow. He began his senior year at Broken Bow but soon after, he was drafted for WWII. After failing his physical three times, he was commissioned to work at a farm when the hired hands all left for the war. Orville enjoyed working on the farm much more than going to school. He earned his Agriculture diploma in 1943.

In 1949, he married the love of his life, Faith Irene Mattox. They farmed several places before purchasing their farm twelve miles northeast of Broken Bow. The two of them worked side by side on the farm and Orville would often say Faith was the best hired hand he ever had. Together they raised stock cattle, hogs, chickens, milk cows and grew corn, milo, alfalfa and wheat. Their farm/ranch grew to over 1600 acres. Orville took pride in sitting down to the dinner table and knowing they had raised everything.

During their marriage, they were blessed with three daughters, Gloria, Neva and Melanie. Orville was on the school board for Rose Valley, the country school they attended. He also helped them train their 4-H calves and made sure they knew how to ride a horse and change a tire.

In 1998, they bought a house in Broken Bow. Orville continued to drive to the farm every day and put in a full day’s work. His favorite part of farming was raising cattle, but he enjoyed it all. His love for horses continued throughout his life. After the girls were grown, they bought their first team of Belgium horses, along with a wagon for them to pull and also a little black buggy with a surrey on top to be pulled by one of their quarter horses. They enjoyed driving in parades as well as giving rides on several special occasions such as weddings and Gates class reunions. They also belonged to the Hitch’n Git Club and enjoyed the Sunday rides and the friends they made.

Orville and Faith also enjoyed traveling in their ‘retirement’ years, taking numerous bus trips across the country and Canada. They enjoyed making new friends along the way as much as the sights.

Soon after celebrating his 90^th birthday, Orville lost his bride of 63 years. He was lost without her. He could be found every morning at 6:00 having breakfast at the City Café before heading to the farm. When he wasn’t at the farm, you could often find him visiting at his grandson’s car lot or a friend’s repair shop.  

Orville continued to be active on the farm until moving into Brookstone View at the age of 97 ½. At Brookstone, you could often find him walking the halls with a friend.

When asked what he attributed to living to be 98 years old, he replied ‘Hard Work!’

Orville was preceded in death by his wife Faith, parents, Raymond and Helen (Fritchie) Harrold, brothers, Delvin Harrold and Billy Harrold.

He is survived by daughters: Gloria (Dean) Duryea, Merna; Neva (John) Meyerhoff, Columbia, SC; Melanie (Bill) Lovgren, Omaha; six grandchildren: Becky (Doug) White, Merna; Adam (Erin) Duryea, Merna; Casi Meyerhoff, Hoboken, NJ; Ashley Meyerhoff, Lexington, SC; Emily (Vince) Lau, Omaha; Olivia (Joe) McKernan, Omaha. Eight great grandchildren: Zachary (Tracie) Hammond, Merna; Cassidy Hammond, Broken Bow, Destrey White, Merna; Ayden Duryea, Merna; Trevor Duryea, Merna; Brecken Meyerhoff, Lexington, SC; Brynn Lau, Omaha; Hunter Lau, Omaha and one great great grandson: Wesley Hammond, Merna. Orville also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He will be dearly missed.

Funeral services will be Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow with David Gruszczynski and Joey McKernan officiating. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Broken Bow Fire & Rescue. A visitation will take place on Friday, February 4, 2022, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm with family greeting 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com.