SOLHEIM’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Part 2

1928 marked the beginning of the Halvorson connection. Olaf Halvorson became Board President in that year and continued in that capacity until 1948. Since professional management wasn’t put in place until 1949, the Board President provided the overall leadership. Morgan Halvorson, his son, recalled a situation when his father was out of town, and the remainder of the Board contemplated the sale of part of the property. Olaf reminded the Board that they always needed to be planning for expansion, thus ending any further contemplation. He also provided the money at times: for painting the exterior, or for covering the mortgage. He determined the wages of the staff, which generally included room and board. When he retired, at the 25th-anniversary celebration, Olaf Halvorson was made Honorary Lifetime President of the Board.

Sources:

“Solheim Lutheran Home, Its Life and Times, 1923-1996” by Elizabeth Batchelder and Joyce Dohlin, 1996

Morgan Halvorson, personal communication to Norma Heaton