Harold Sterling Lassell

June 22, 1924 - March 2, 2021

Harold Sterling Lassell, age 96, of Beach, North Dakota, passed away on March 2, 2021 at Southwest Healthcare Services in Bowman, North Dakota. Harold was born on June 22, 1924 in Glendive, Montana, to Troy and Mabel (Montgomery) Lassell. He was the third of five children. Harold was raised in Beach and grew up doing farm work, mechanical work and welding. He joined the Army in June of 1944. Harold married the love of his life, Carol Barendse of Muskegon, Michigan, on August 24, 1945. They first met when Carol was attending 2nd grade in Beach while living with her grandmother. They became reacquainted when Carol moved to Beach in 1945 to help her grandmother with her photography studio. They raised three daughters, Barbara, DeEtta and Beryl. Harold was a Private First Class Rifleman in the Army during World War II, where he earned a Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal-44 and an American Theater Service Medal. During the Battle of the Bulge, Harold earned a Purple Heart. After serving in the Army, Harold returned home and worked as a mechanic with Brengles for ten years, Hardy Motors for thirteen years, and then started his own shop (Harold’s Motor Clinic) in May of 1968. He also rented farmland north of Beach and was quite happy planting and harvesting wheat. He fixed up an Army M2 Cletrak and his beloved 1950 Willys Jeep (Betsy). He was honored to lead the Legion Parades in Beach and surrounding areas, which he did for around fifteen years. Harold and Carol loved to take off in their motor home and travel to Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri and Oregon, visiting their siblings and cousins, and even ventured in their motor home to Alaska with friends. As Harold tended to drive a little slow (at least 10-15 miles below the speed limit) he was only allowed to bring up the rear in the caravan of motor homes. Harold also loved to read westerns, Louis L’Amour being one of his favorite authors. Harold was a member of the American Legion for over sixty years. In November of 2020, Harold was presented with a Quilt by the Quilt of Valor Foundation while living at the nursing home in Bowman, North Dakota. It was a major highlight in the last few months of his life. Harold is survived by his daughters, DeEtta (Timothy) Frandsen of Mesa, AZ and Beryl (Gary) Thorson of Mesa AZ; his seven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren: Reid Carlson of Bowman, ND and his children, Nicole Carlson of Richmond, VA and Mathew Carlson of Dickinson, ND; Troy Carlson, of Bowman, ND; Jhannea (Chad) Ringenberg and their children, Brylan, Lanae, Shayna and Paige Ringenberg of Grand Forks, ND; Paeter (Holly) Frandsen, and their children, Asher and Titus Frandsen of Mesa, AZ; Karyne (Jonathan) Norton, and their children, Silas, Garrison, Lydia and Charlotte Norton of Mesa, AZ; Kyle (Pamela) Thorson, and their children, Tyler and Roman Thorson of Watford City, ND; and Kelly (Rob) Balsam and their children, Rorie and Ryan Balsam of Cody, WY; along with his sister-in-law, Sue Barendse and brother-in-law, Kenneth J. Barendse, both of Muskegon, MI, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol Lassell; his daughter, Barbara Carlson; great granddaughter, Cianna Carlson; his parents, Troy and Mabel Lassell and sisters, Floy DeVries, Enola Farquhar, Avis Boehrs and Joyce Acosta. A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Silha Funeral Home in Beach with Pastor Warren Maxted officiating. Internment will take place at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.