Harold Edgar GROVE

07/23/1916 - 05/12/2015

GROVE, Harold Edgar Harold Edgar Grove (Hal) was born July 23, 1916 in Spalding, NE to Harry Merril Grove and Hattie Coleman Grove, and died at 98 years of age May 12, 2015 in Spokane, WA. His grandfather Christopher Columbus Grove had been a pioneer and hotelier in Spalding. Hal told many tales of small town life in Spalding, including restoring a Model T Ford that he, only 12, and his brother hauled out of the river. When the family moved to a nearby farm in the 30s young Hal took the blame for a broken tractor, so his father sent him and his horse to tend cattle with his brother where they camped out under the stars on the open prairie - real cowboys! Hal was 17 when Grandma Effie found him a job in Winner, SD plucking chickens. He quickly advanced to shoveling coal, unloading train cars, then to night clerk and bouncer in the local hotel. He moved back to Nebraska to live with cousin Margie's family in Beatrice and there under her influence came to know God. On a double date in Omaha, he met the love of his life Joyce Jeanette Anderson, a nursing student. They married in 1942, secretly so she could finish her nursing course. Hal worked at the Pontiac dealer and in his spare time rented and flew airplanes with the other young men, back before pilot's licenses and formal flying school. When World War II broke out Hal joined the Army Air Force. Joyce and Hal went from base to base in Texas and New Mexico. She would work for the local doctor, the only RN in the area, and Hal, though colorblind, qualified for advanced bombardier, trained on the top-secret Norden bombsight. The war ended before he could be deployed. The young couple raised their children, Stephen Lester, born 1947, and Sandra Leslie, born 1948, in Omaha where Hal built houses. Hal eventually bought a farm in Millard, NE, and turned it into houses, apartments, condos, and an 18 hole country club. One memorable event was a golf tournament attended by Arnold Palmer. Hal served as president of the Nebraska Home Builder's Association, and was active in the Masons. He and Joyce loved traveling, boating, and entertaining their grandchildren Jeff and Rob, Sandy's kids born 1976 and 1978. He taught both of them to shoot a gun and drive a car. Hal collected cars, guns, and friends all over the country in and out of the building business. He and Joyce lived with Sandy and Ford Cashion in Texas in their later years. Hal's beloved Joyce passed in 2006. At age 94 Hal went back to Millard for a grand birthday celebration and tribute to his building the popular Oak Hills Country Club. Hal's friendly, engaging character never failed, whether he was sitting in the hot tub at the Spokane Downtown Y, or trolling the halls of St. Joseph Care Center with his walker. Hal's loving survivors include son Steve (Penny); daughter Sandra Cashion (Ford); grandsons Jeff (Elana) and Rob Cashion; great-grandson Joshua and great-granddaughter Anna, Jeff and Elana's kids; and niece Connie Shamphan, and nephew Ron Grove. Hal's family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at St. Joseph Care Center and Hospice of Spokane.