Howard Hallman

Funeral services for Howard Hallman, age 86 of rural Chokio, will be held on Wednesday, March 10th, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnson, Minnesota, with a public visitation one hour prior. Pastor Donald Main will be officiating. A public visitation will also be held Tuesday, March 9th, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, Minnesota. Burial will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery.

There will be a live stream of Howard’s service starting at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10th.  To view the service on the Pedersen Funeral Home website, scroll to the bottom of Howard’s page and click the link.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to accommodate gatherings of up to 250 people. The use of face masks by attendees is required, and we will continue taking the necessary steps to keep our facility clean. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting and/or livestreaming is available in most situations.

Howard Melvin Hallman was born at home on the family farm in Baker Township, rural Chokio, on June 19, 1934, to George W. and Bertha (Lahners) Hallman. He was confirmed on April 25, 1948 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Chokio.  As a child, Howard attended a country school, and graduated from Alberta High School in the Spring of 1952. Immediately after high school, Howard began to work on the family farm until he was drafted into the Army in March of 1958. He served in Germany from October of 1958 through February of 1960 as a mechanic.  Howard enjoyed seeing and experiencing Germany.  He made life-long friends and was proud of serving his country overseas. Later in his life, Howard and his family visited Germany and were able to visit German friends he had made while stationed there. He was very grateful for this experience.  When he returned in 1960, he continued to farm with his father and brother.  He met Virginia Jahnke during the summer of 1966 and the two were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnson, MN, on September 7, 1968.  Together, they had two sons, Jeff and Jon. Faith and family were very important to Howard. He and Virginia worked hard to instill these values, along with hard work and pride in a job well done. The family was blessed to be able to work together on the farm and enjoyed traveling together, spending time outdoors and visiting with friends and family. After his wife’s passing in 1989, Howard continued to live and work on the family farm with his son, Jon. Later in life, Howard met a special friend, Virginia Fickes. They enjoyed each other's companionship, sharing many meals and conversations.  Howard was very thankful to be able to remain on the farm until two months prior to his death.  Howard was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnson, MN, where he served on the church council and board of education for Trinity Lutheran School.

Howard loved being active in his childrens’ and grandchildrens’ lives. He attended many ball games, concerts and grandparents’ days. Whether it was working on the farm or sharing a cookie, he never missed an opportunity to teach them about God and his love for them.  One of the joys of his life was visiting and meeting  people.  He was infamous for his lengthy conversations.

Howard died peacefully on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, with family by his side.

Howard is survived by his two sons: Jeff (Michelle) Hallman of Fargo, ND, and Jon (Erin) Hallman of Chokio; his grandchildren Kevin and Katy, both of Fargo, ND, and Noah, Jackson, Benjamin, and Sophia, all of Chokio; special friend Virginia Fickes of Herman; sister-in-law Charlotte Loges of Donnellson, IA, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Virginia, his brother George, and parents George W. and Bertha (Lahners) Hallman.