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September 17, 1946 - April 8, 2024
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O. Scott Halverson
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O. Scott Halverson, passed away at the Marshfield Medical Center, on the morning of April 8, 2024, at the age of 77.
Many knew him as Orv, The Big O, Salty, Scotty, or Orville (we think only by his hunting buddy, Mike Disher). He was born September 17, 1946, in Hancock, Wis. to Eleanor M. (née Lane) Halverson-Fredrick and Orville E. Halverson. Scott had three sisters: Connie, (Krakow) Judi (Holder), and Sally (Worzalla).
In his younger years, he loved spending time at his grandfather’s (Dr. E.L. Lane) cottage on Fish Lake where he played, fished, and enjoyed the summers with all of his family members, his good friend Johnny Holder, lots of buddies, and, the closest thing to a brother, his first cousin, Steve Wandrey. Scott loved cars and horsepower, which was a love and interest he found early and stayed with him through his entire life. He picked pickles (cucumbers for those of you who must) for about 50 cents or so, he says, and loved the Lonar Roller Rink on Old Hwy 51 just north of Hancock. One of his favorite memories when he was younger was driving with his dad, who he lost at 18, to Two Lakes for a pizza, which they would bring back to Hancock. He attended grade school in Hancock and attended Tri-County High School and was proud to be a Penguin (which he said with enthusiasm and sarcasm simultaneously). He graduated in 1965 and held various jobs until he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and enlisted February 14, 1966. He was activated, attended basic training in Texas, and was sent to Vietnam, where he served in combat with the 633rd CC&S Company in Cam Ranh Bay, until he was honorably discharged, later in 1968. Scott was always very sensitive to the cause of Vietnam Veterans who were not welcomed home and treated with the respect they so deserved and earned.
After Vietnam, Scott was employed in Janesville at GM, spent time at the Belvidere assembly, and in 1969 was hired by the Wisconsin DNR Fire Control for fighting forest/wildland fires throughout Central and Northern Wisconsin, where we are told he also dressed up like Smokey (The) Bear, at various parades and events to promote fire safety. Scott was also a heavy equipment operator for the DNR. During that time, he could also be found at The Outer Limits, Poor Henry’s, The Brat Barn, and other various locations in the 1970s like Mr. Lucky’s, where he could put on quite a show on the disco dance floor. Scott was hired by the Stevens Point Fire Department in 1973 where he served until the year 2000 reaching the rank of company officer/captain. Scott fought many fires like the Northside IGA fire and the Top Hat Bar fire, where he found and kept a shot glass in his helmet for years up until the last day when he retired, when it fell and broke (John and Marie forgave him for the theft!!). He loved serving on the ambulance with Fuzzy, Geno, George, Dorny, and too many more to name. He especially loved his time on the department with his good friend Jay Gordon, and, of course, razzing any new rookie who would come on the department, like future Chief Tracy Kujawa and future Lt. Ron Heibler, who would later save his life and extend his time with family just three weeks ago. The fire service was truly at the core of who Orv was: FDNY 911 was his license plate in honor of so many in the fire service that died in the line of duty that day.
Scott enjoyed racing more than any other pastime, watching the Packers and college basketball being a close second. He loved racing with his good friend Fluff Furo and driving the car hauler and being on the pit crew for Dick Trickle and running the ambulance at Golden Sands Speedway throughout the 1970s and early ’80s. Scott was also an avid snowmobiler and Ski-Doo fan. He raced at Eagle River in the 1970s with his Ski-Doo Blizzard, the same sled he so proudly pointed out, was the sled that his son at age 6 or 7 took up to about 70-80 mph on Oneida Lake. Anything that had horsepower, torque and speed was exactly right up his alley. Scott would also so often reminisce about the great times (and Manhattans) he had deer hunting with the Disher boys up in Glidden, and the times he and Kim spent with Tammy and Rich at Badger Games. Scott was especially touched by being able to be on The Never Forgotten Honor Flight in 2018 and visit the Vietnam Memorial.
On October 26, 1974, Scott married Kim M. Kraft at St. Peter’s Church and called Stevens Point home ever since then. They enjoyed their time together through camping trips with friends, packer games, dart leagues, bowling leagues, traveling, spending time up north, and serving together in so many organizations. Kim and Scott enjoyed numerous firefighter conventions and countless campfires together and most importantly, their grandchildren Alex, Mason, and Elise.
Just last year they were able to fulfill a life-long dream of being able to see and experience Alaska on a cruise. NASCAR, The Green Bay Packers, horsepower, Old Thompson’s, deer hunting, and patriotism, really define who The Big O was.
Scotty was a lifetime member of AMVETS Post 1051 where he served multiple tours as Commander, Stevens Point American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and most proudly, Plover VFW Post 10262 where he also served as Commander and for years on the Honor Guard and Rifle Squad. Scott was also a member of the Stevens Point Elks Lodge BPOE #641. He so loved watching his grandkids play football, basketball, or run track. He especially loved bringing donuts in the morning for his granddaughter Elise, his little “Tootie Frootie” on the mornings he would come and sit with her before school, then insist on driving her the the blocks to school. Orv, The Salty Dog, will be missed by so many. His unwavering humor, harsh tongue, and honesty will be tough to match for anyone…and the shine on his vehicle will be hard to replace.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years Kim Halverson; son, Andrew (Shana) Halverson; three grandchildren, Alex, Mason, and Elise Halverson; his sister, Sally (née Halverson) Worzalla and nieces, Tamara Holmes (Rich Sweet), Loni Holder, Lori Holder Moore, and Janelle Holmes-Lane; and nephew Barkley Holder.
He was preceded in death by his mother Eleanor, father Orville (Ole), sisters Connie and Judi, and nephew Scott.
Visitation will be held at Boston Funeral Home on Friday, April 12, from 4-7 p.m. with a Fire Department Honor Guard, followed by a visitation from 10-11 a.m. at Boston Funeral Home on Saturday, April 13, with a VFW ritual at 11 a.m. Memorial Services followed at 11:15 led by his niece, Rev. Leiloni Holder, with procession and burial following at Guardian Angel Cemetery with military and fire department honors. In lieu of flowers, the family would gratefully accept donations in Scott’s honor, to be donated at a later date for patriotic scholarships, VFW support, and Stevens Point Fire Department initiatives. Donations can be sent to the Boston Funeral Home, 1649 Briggs St., Stevens Point, Wis., 54481.
Many knew him as Orv, The Big O, Salty, Scotty, or Orville (we think only by his hunting buddy, Mike Disher). He was born September 17, 1946, in Hancock, Wis. to Eleanor M. (née Lane) Halverson-Fredrick and Orville E. Halverson. Scott had three sisters: Connie, (Krakow) Judi (Holder), and Sally (Worzalla).
In his younger years, he loved spending time at his grandfather’s (Dr. E.L. Lane) cottage on Fish Lake where he played, fished, and enjoyed the summers with all of his family members, his good friend Johnny Holder, lots of buddies, and, the closest thing to a brother, his first cousin, Steve Wandrey. Scott loved cars and horsepower, which was a love and interest he found early and stayed with him through his entire life. He picked pickles (cucumbers for those of you who must) for about 50 cents or so, he says, and loved the Lonar Roller Rink on Old Hwy 51 just north of Hancock. One of his favorite memories when he was younger was driving with his dad, who he lost at 18, to Two Lakes for a pizza, which they would bring back to Hancock. He attended grade school in Hancock and attended Tri-County High School and was proud to be a Penguin (which he said with enthusiasm and sarcasm simultaneously). He graduated in 1965 and held various jobs until he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and enlisted February 14, 1966. He was activated, attended basic training in Texas, and was sent to Vietnam, where he served in combat with the 633rd CC&S Company in Cam Ranh Bay, until he was honorably discharged, later in 1968. Scott was always very sensitive to the cause of Vietnam Veterans who were not welcomed home and treated with the respect they so deserved and earned.
After Vietnam, Scott was employed in Janesville at GM, spent time at the Belvidere assembly, and in 1969 was hired by the Wisconsin DNR Fire Control for fighting forest/wildland fires throughout Central and Northern Wisconsin, where we are told he also dressed up like Smokey (The) Bear, at various parades and events to promote fire safety. Scott was also a heavy equipment operator for the DNR. During that time, he could also be found at The Outer Limits, Poor Henry’s, The Brat Barn, and other various locations in the 1970s like Mr. Lucky’s, where he could put on quite a show on the disco dance floor. Scott was hired by the Stevens Point Fire Department in 1973 where he served until the year 2000 reaching the rank of company officer/captain. Scott fought many fires like the Northside IGA fire and the Top Hat Bar fire, where he found and kept a shot glass in his helmet for years up until the last day when he retired, when it fell and broke (John and Marie forgave him for the theft!!). He loved serving on the ambulance with Fuzzy, Geno, George, Dorny, and too many more to name. He especially loved his time on the department with his good friend Jay Gordon, and, of course, razzing any new rookie who would come on the department, like future Chief Tracy Kujawa and future Lt. Ron Heibler, who would later save his life and extend his time with family just three weeks ago. The fire service was truly at the core of who Orv was: FDNY 911 was his license plate in honor of so many in the fire service that died in the line of duty that day.
Scott enjoyed racing more than any other pastime, watching the Packers and college basketball being a close second. He loved racing with his good friend Fluff Furo and driving the car hauler and being on the pit crew for Dick Trickle and running the ambulance at Golden Sands Speedway throughout the 1970s and early ’80s. Scott was also an avid snowmobiler and Ski-Doo fan. He raced at Eagle River in the 1970s with his Ski-Doo Blizzard, the same sled he so proudly pointed out, was the sled that his son at age 6 or 7 took up to about 70-80 mph on Oneida Lake. Anything that had horsepower, torque and speed was exactly right up his alley. Scott would also so often reminisce about the great times (and Manhattans) he had deer hunting with the Disher boys up in Glidden, and the times he and Kim spent with Tammy and Rich at Badger Games. Scott was especially touched by being able to be on The Never Forgotten Honor Flight in 2018 and visit the Vietnam Memorial.
On October 26, 1974, Scott married Kim M. Kraft at St. Peter’s Church and called Stevens Point home ever since then. They enjoyed their time together through camping trips with friends, packer games, dart leagues, bowling leagues, traveling, spending time up north, and serving together in so many organizations. Kim and Scott enjoyed numerous firefighter conventions and countless campfires together and most importantly, their grandchildren Alex, Mason, and Elise.
Just last year they were able to fulfill a life-long dream of being able to see and experience Alaska on a cruise. NASCAR, The Green Bay Packers, horsepower, Old Thompson’s, deer hunting, and patriotism, really define who The Big O was.
Scotty was a lifetime member of AMVETS Post 1051 where he served multiple tours as Commander, Stevens Point American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and most proudly, Plover VFW Post 10262 where he also served as Commander and for years on the Honor Guard and Rifle Squad. Scott was also a member of the Stevens Point Elks Lodge BPOE #641. He so loved watching his grandkids play football, basketball, or run track. He especially loved bringing donuts in the morning for his granddaughter Elise, his little “Tootie Frootie” on the mornings he would come and sit with her before school, then insist on driving her the the blocks to school. Orv, The Salty Dog, will be missed by so many. His unwavering humor, harsh tongue, and honesty will be tough to match for anyone…and the shine on his vehicle will be hard to replace.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years Kim Halverson; son, Andrew (Shana) Halverson; three grandchildren, Alex, Mason, and Elise Halverson; his sister, Sally (née Halverson) Worzalla and nieces, Tamara Holmes (Rich Sweet), Loni Holder, Lori Holder Moore, and Janelle Holmes-Lane; and nephew Barkley Holder.
He was preceded in death by his mother Eleanor, father Orville (Ole), sisters Connie and Judi, and nephew Scott.
Visitation will be held at Boston Funeral Home on Friday, April 12, from 4-7 p.m. with a Fire Department Honor Guard, followed by a visitation from 10-11 a.m. at Boston Funeral Home on Saturday, April 13, with a VFW ritual at 11 a.m. Memorial Services followed at 11:15 led by his niece, Rev. Leiloni Holder, with procession and burial following at Guardian Angel Cemetery with military and fire department honors. In lieu of flowers, the family would gratefully accept donations in Scott’s honor, to be donated at a later date for patriotic scholarships, VFW support, and Stevens Point Fire Department initiatives. Donations can be sent to the Boston Funeral Home, 1649 Briggs St., Stevens Point, Wis., 54481.