Long-time Brookings resident and noted public servant Harold C. Neuberger, age 91, died unexpectedly on July 4, 2020 while a resident at Majestic Bluffs, Yankton, where he had relocated with his wife Mavis in October, 2019.  

Private family funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings. Services will be livestreamed on the Rude’s Funeral Home Facebook page.

 Harold Neuberger was born on Aug.2, 1928, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Chester and Irene Neuberger.  The fourth of six children, Harold grew up in Sioux Falls and attended Washington High School.   In 1945 Harold left high school prior to graduation and at age seventeen joined the United States Marine Corps.  Within a year Harold was in China serving with Marine Fighter Squadron 218 as a plane captain for the F4U Corsair at Nan Yuan Field near Beijing.  Harold was united in marriage to Mavis Gaard on Aug. 14, 1949. They made their first home in Sioux Falls while Harold completed his college degree from Augustana College.

In 1951 Harold was recalled to active duty in support of the Korean War.  Due to his academic status Harold applied for and was selected to attend officer candidate school and in 1953 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve where he served as an infantry officer until 1957. He later transferred to the South Dakota Army National Guard and served in engineering and transportation assignments until his retirement from the Army Guard in 1981 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

 Harold began his distinguished career with the SD Highway Patrol in Gettysburg, SD in 1954 thinking it would be for just a “couple of years.”  Those couple of years lasted 27, having retired in 1981 after 22 years in the Brookings area.  The love of the highway extended into many cross country road trips with Mavis and all five kids in tow.  Harold wanted to broaden his children’s horizons, often hitting the highway in a pickup truck and camper. Upon retirement, Harold hit the highway again, this time on his BMW Tour Bike, logging thousands of miles with other motorcycle enthusiasts and his son, Clifford.  His retirement years were also filled with service oriented endeavors such as substitute teacher in the elementary grades, a rural route school bus driver and as an independent driver’s education instructor for international students attending SDSU. 

 Harold had a quick wit and a dry sense of humor. He was a teacher at heart and prolific writer.  His love of bird and big game hunting provided him the deserved break from the day to day stress of law enforcement.  Plus, he enjoyed the fruits of his labor with many a pheasant and elk meal.

 Harold was a member of the South Dakota Peace Officers Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1st Marine Division (China Marine Association), Great Plains Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Autobahn, and The Sons of Norway.  Always an Augustana ‘Viking,’ Harold was recognized by the Minnesota Vikings football team as a dedicated season ticket holder for over 20 years’ participation.  Harold and Mavis are charter members of Ascension Lutheran Church, Brookings where they served for over 60 years.

Harold is survived by his wife of nearly 71 years, Mavis; sons Jeffrey (Spokane, WA) and Clifford (Coral Springs, FL); daughters Karol (Rust) of Wichita, Kansas; Jane (Miller) of Yankton; Joan (Neilan) of Sioux Falls.  He is also survived by fifteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.  Harold was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Irene, brothers Clifford and Marlowe, and sisters Charlotte, Loretta, and Melva.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.