Harley Gene Fjone

June 21st, 1936: It was Summer Solstice. The good people of Duluth, Minnesota could finally be sure that they had seen the last snowstorm of the season. Hans and Violet Fjone celebrated the birth of their first baby that day, the same day many Duluthians were celebrating their Viking heritage, in Lincoln Park! Three years later, when Arlis, was born the family was complete: Dad, Mom, Har, and Ar!

Harley met Betty Ann Swenson when they worked together at the Grand movie theatre. She was the popcorn girl and he was the usher. They were married August 27, 1955 and just one year later their daughter, Lyn Marie was born on August 1. Their son, Lon Harley, completed the family when he was born April 1, 1959.

Harley and Betty were divorced in 1964 and Harley met and married Velma Waltman in 1966. Their lives were filled with golf, bowling, square dancing, traveling, fishing, camping, and kids (Lon & Lyn gained 4 step sibs). They moved to Texas in the late 1970s, where Harley’s love of Country music, BBQ brisket, trucks, and two-stepping made him feel right at home. They had 35 years together, but Velma suffered with several chronic conditions and Harley retired early to care for her for the last 13 years of her life.

In 2008, Richard & Lyn were delighted to welcome him to Ft Myers. Six Lakes Country Club, with its golf course and active social calendar, was healing and it wasn’t long before he met and married one of his neighbors, Donna Richards. He was welcomed into the “Six Lakes family” where he & Donna participated in all the activities and made wonderful memories on their many adventures. When Donna grew ill and needed care a few years later, Harley stepped up again and cared for her until her passing in May of 2015.

Three hole-in-ones, a few beers, and many happy days of golf later, mutual friends introduced him to Nancy Odom and it seemed like the clock turned back a few years! They made every day count with many fun trips and activities. In 2022, the two made a trip to Oslo to visit friends and were able to visit the legendary Fjone farm. Grandpa Hans always told us that his Grandparents farm was on Fjone Fjord. Now, I was sure that was a great story - with no trace of truth: WRONG! Dad met his cousin, Astrid Fjone, who still lives on the Fjone farm on Fjone Fjord.

Harley was a natural storyteller and it wasn’t unusual for him to laugh so hard in the telling, that he could hardly finish, or to tear up and barely squeak the words out. One of my favorites is the Route 66 trip in 1951 when his Grandpa Hans lost his job at the Coolerator, in Duluth. A cousin had moved to California and he suggested the family join them in Santa Rosa. So Hans, Violet, Arlis, and Grandma Alyce took a train to California; 15-year-old Harley, Grandpa Tjader, and Grandpa's little dog drove the truck West to California. Dad was the only driver in the family and their wallets were pretty thin, so their meals consisted of Spam sandwiches on white bread.

At night, Grandpa would pull into whatever farm they happened upon, knock on the door, and say in his thick Scandinavian accent, “Have you got room for two weary travelers tonight?” It was 1951, times were different then. One night while traveling the narrow 2 lane road, up and down the steep grades, amidst a caravan of heavy 18 wheelers, there was a fatal accident ahead. The image of the couple who was killed never left him, and the kindness of the truck drivers likely influenced his love of big trucks. His career began with International Harvester (Navistar) and ended with Ryder.

Dad had a big heart and everyone who knew him appreciated his warmth. He taught both Lon and Lyn to golf, and taught all of his kids how to fish, camp, cook, snowmobile, shovel snow, and practice kindness. He was preceded in death by wife, Velma, step children, Christine, Jerry, and Larry (Margie) Waltman, and his grandson, Brent Carlson. He is forever loved and remembered by his sons, Lon Fjone (Melody), Gary Waltman (Martha), daughter, Lyn Carlson (Richard), significant other, Nancy Odom, his Six Lakes family, and his many family and friends all over the country. We plan to celebrate his life at Six Lakes Country Club, in the fall, and hope many of you will be with us to share your memories. Together, we’ll raise a glass to our Dad, Harley!

Skal for vennskap. (Cheers to friendship)