Hartvig "Junior" Roseburg, Jr.

Hartvig "Junior" Roseburg, Jr., 85, longtime Moses Lake resident passed away Thursday, May 27, 2010 at his home. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Paul Wagner officiating. Inurnment will be at Guarding Angels Cemetery, 2595 Road L N.E., Moses Lake. Hartvig Roseburg Jr. was born Sept 7th, 1924 at home on the farm in Cle Elum, WA to Hartvig Sr. and Ida Mitchell. Hartvig Sr. was born in Sweden; Ida was born to Norwegian parents in Minnesota. Three boys were born to Hartvig Sr. and Ida; John, Robert, and Hartvig Jr. of which Jr. was the youngest. Jr. grew up helping on the family farm; in an unfortunate farming accident at the age of 15 Jr. lost his leg in a hay chopper when the pole he was pushing hay with got stuck and he fell in the hole. The accident really only helped motivate Jr. and he set out to prove that he wasn’t handicapped. Jr. graduated from high school when he was 17 in 1942. Jr. married Isabel Matheson daughter of Chris and Mary Matheson of Ellensburg, WA in 1952. Jr. and Isabel developed a farm from raw ground near the emerging farm town of Moses Lake in March of 1952 in pursuit of additional potato ground. Jr. wanted to capitalize on the Bureau of Reclamation project having gained valuable experience in irrigated farming in Cle Elum. Jr. and Isabel lived in a camp trailer all that first summer. Jr. had a bumper crop of potatoes that fall, followed by first son Daniel in November of 1952, and they built their home in the winter of 1952-53. Daughter Patricia (Patti) was born in February of 1954. William was born in April of 1957. Jr. was selected Columbia Basin Farmer of the year in 1962. Jr. continued to grow the farm over the next ten years, while also raising cattle during the winter months. Jr. bonded with many of the other local farmers in his area, which resulted in being a founding member of the Block 40 club. The club sponsored the Block 40 Jr. rodeo and built the Block 40 community building on Stratford Road. They also built the Block 40 “The Little Red Barn” that is still a popular booth at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Jr. was a 4-H leader for the Tumbleweeds beef club. In 1959 Jr. moved into seed crops. Jr. and Isabel took a trip to Scotland in 1974 to get acquainted with Isabel’s relatives. Jr. was an active member in the community, a board member of the Grant County Farm bureau, member of the Columbia Basin Alfalfa Seed Growers Association, member of the Elks Club, a Sons of Norway charter member for 47 years, a conservation board member, and member of the Grange for 72 years. Son Dan married in 1973 to Vicky Hitchcock and Jr. helped Dan get farming on his own in 1975. Jr. suffered from a serious heart attack in 1976. This slowed him down temporarily, but he made a full recovery. Daughter Patti was married to Joe Kurkowski of Warden, WA in 1974. Son Bill attended Washington State University in 1977 and married Charlotte Zidack in 1987. Jr. officially retired from farming in 1987 but as most farmers do, he never really retired and continued to help for many more years. Jr. helped Bill start farming in 1987. Retirement years consisted of frequent traveling across the western United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Jr. and Isabel were also active members in the RV community with the Good Sam’s club. Jr. and Isabel bought a winter home in Mesa, AZ and enjoyed many fine years and made many good friends. Jr. is preceded in death by his father, mother, and both brothers. Jr. is survived by wife Isabel, sons Dan (Vicky) and Bill (Charlotte), daughter Patti (Joe) Kurkowski, grandchildren Chris (Ali) Roseburg, Kerry Joe Kurkowski, Lisa Roseburg, Stacie (Steve) White, Michele Roseburg, Michael Roseburg, Farmer Roseburg, and Maggie Roseburg, and great-grandchildren Kylie White and Camryn Roseburg.

Hartvig "Junior" Roseburg, Jr.

September 7, 1924 - May 27, 2010