By Eilene Lyon
Alvin Treslin Halse (1915–2007)
Grandpa Everett and his youngest brother, Alvin, were the “runts” of the Halse family. Despite his stature, Al played basketball for the Florence, S.D., high school. Older siblings Inez and Lloyd were like second parents to him. In the late 30s and 1940s he worked in a Corvallis, Oregon, creamery. He married Loretta Frydendall in 1937.
Al served 22 months on the USS Bunker Hill (called “Gray Ghost” by the Japanese) in the South Pacific. He was discharged in October 1945. After the war, he returned to South Dakota and married Shirley Coombs; they had two sons together.
Al helped Lloyd with his meat locker business, and owned a grocery store in Clear Lake. For a time he served as mayor. He and Shirley ran a golf course after retirement. Chronic bronchitis moved Al and Shirley to Texas in later life. Al died on Veteran’s Day 2007 in Clear Lake.
Feature image: Alvin T. Halse in his WWII Navy uniform. (Courtesy of Shirley Halse)
Myricopia 
What happened to his first wife?
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They divorced. Aside from that, I don’t know. Her brother married Al’s next younger sister. I met those Frydendalls once or twice when I was very young. They lived on the Oregon coast.
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Glad he found happiness the second time round!
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Seems so!
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Lovely photos as always. So sad Alvin and Loretta divorced – they look so happy in the photo. His work career was quite varied – not unusual for the period, I presume.
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Seems like it always had some connection to food. Even at the golf course, food service was a big aspect.
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Well, I am curious Eilene – what happened to Loretta? Did she send Alvin a “Dear John” letter while he was in the service? That is a beautiful wedding photo of Alvin and Shirley – I like how they colorized it.
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That may well be possible, Linda. I doubt I will ever find out, though. There are some people who might be able to tell me, but I am not sure if I will ask!
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Since the info was not readily available to you, I agree with you not to tread there! 🙂
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I’ll speculate in comments, but not in the piece. Besides, I give myself a limit of 150 words for this series, so speculation doesn’t make the cut, only facts or opinions expressed by someone who knew the person.
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I was wondering the same thing, Linda!
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Great minds think alike Liz!
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🙂
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What a handsome young man! I’m glad he had a good life after the war.
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I think he did, really.
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That warms my heart.
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Alive was quite a handsome man!
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Yes, was a good looking guy!
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Like others, I wondered about the first wife. Did you want to make it mysterious?? 🙂
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I just don’t have the answer. I don’t believe anyone ever told me the story.
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I think Shirley looks like a sweeter, kinder person. At least in the photo that comes through. What a nice looking man!
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I’m glad I had the chance to meet Shirley in person in 2015. We’ve also exchanged letters.
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That’s wonderful!
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When I began my family research, I had no idea that some of my great aunts and uncle were still living. I made a point of meeting them, as well as some of my parents’ many cousins whom I also had never met before.
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That’s so fabulous.
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The man had many chapters to his life, for certain.
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I think that’s a Halse family credo!
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