By Eilene Lyon
Howard Adrian Halse (1897–1978)
Howard was the first-born child of Guy and Mabel (Cutting) Halse. He came into, and left, the world in Dexter Township, Codington County, South Dakota. He inherited his size from Guy, standing nearly six feet and topping 200 pounds.
“Mr. Halse attended country school near his home and farmed in the Florence area all his adult life. He served on the Dexter Township Board, the district school board and the Dexter Mutual Insurance Company board of directors. He was affiliated with the Methodist Church.”
In 1920, Howard married his 2nd cousin, once removed, Cecil Alice Drake. They had five children together, but two died as infants, one from appendicitis and one from spina bifida.
According to his son, Howard was a nice man who liked to tease. He also took in people who needed help, including his brother-in-law, Jack Wiesner.
Feature image: Clip from Halse family portrait taken around 1925.
Sources:
Interview with W. Halse, August 27, 2015.
Unsourced newspaper clipping, obituary for Howard Halse, age 80.
Myricopia 
Wow, his face never changed! How is he related to you?
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He’s my dad’s paternal uncle.
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These bites are great. I love that he was described as a nice man who helped others. If that’s all people have to say about me after I’m gone, then I figure that’s a life well lived.
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I think you can see that kindness in his face. I enjoyed meeting his son, who is also very kind.
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I agree, I was thinking the same thing.
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Yup, you are correct. I hope for the sane. people say I was a nice person too. I’ll be satisfied.
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That is a perfectly acceptable way to be remembered, for sure.
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He looks like a kind and decent person. What tragedy they endured though with the loss of their children.
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Yes, that was tragic for them.
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He has a kind face. Did you ever meet him?
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No. Most of my dad’s relatives lived (and still do) in South Dakota. We never lived anywhere near there. Only visited once as a very young child. I did finally meet his last surviving maternal uncle and two aunts by marriage. Only one is still living.
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Oh, that’s too bad. I know all of my mother’s aunts, uncles and cousins – on both sides. (Those that are left, of course.) My father’s side? None.
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We were Army brats. But my dad didn’t grow up around too much family, either. My mom was never close to her cousins. I’ve met a number of them since I got very interested in family history. It’s been wonderful!
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I cannot even imagine being an army brat. Hell, I STILL live in the same town! How wonderful that you have been able to meet a number of them 🙂
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Once I got out of college and wound up in Durango, I have stayed put!
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I hear ya!!
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I love the photographs accompanying Howard’s bio.
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I’m fortunate that Howard’s son shared those with me. So many photos like this exist in private collections and are never available except in person.
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The photographs are gorgeous. Especially the first one. They look like such nice children.
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One of my dad’s Halse cousins sent me that photo. My grandfather was Everett, the boy with the big blond curl.
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Lovely!
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Interesting wedding image and quite playful compared to many and the man is usually standing over the woman or standing side by side. Wedding photos during the era and no matter what country, they didn’t look the most happiest of events. No doubt told not to smile?
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By 1920, I think they could have smiled, but maybe people just took portraits very seriously. I do like Cecil’s pose in this one – much more casual. Even her outfit is not that formal.
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It is a lovely informal photo.
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😊
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The infant mortality rates back then were frightening.
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Indeed. Hard to imagine all the heartbreak, but all your neighbors were probably experiencing similar.
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Sounds like a nice guy, always helping people – a giant of a man in many ways. I like the colorized photo amongst all the sepia-toned and black-and-white photos.
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The hand-tinting is a nice touch though not always lifelike.
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Love those family photos – Howard sounds like a nice man 🙂
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I wish I’d had a chance to meet more of my dad’s relatives.
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