A recording of the service (available 8/29) may be accessed at https://www.mtmsales.net/thomas.

Harvey Herslip, 87, Minot, died Thursday, August 20, 2026, in his home.

Harvey was born August 12, 1939, in Eckman, North Dakota to Clarence and Alpha (Tandberg) Herslip. Like many in those days he attended country school as a boy and loved living on the farm with his family helping with the dairy cows. As a young man, he worked for farm neighbors helping out with any of their farming activities. Harvey loved to hunt and fish with his father while he grew up. Harvey graduated with the Deering High School Class of 1957.

He met Florence Hannesson in 1957 at a local townhall dance. They saw each other regularly and both attended Minot State University. Harvey earned a Business Education Degree. Harvey proposed February 14, 1959, and they were united in marriage on August 1, 1959, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Upham.

Harvey and Florence moved to Ryder, North Dakota. He began his teaching career in Plaza, where he also coached junior high basketball. Harvey spent the next 40 years of his life dedicated to education alongside Florence, who also worked as a teacher. Harvey earned a Master ’s Degree in Education from Tri State University in 1980.

Harvey was never idle. He worked at Nelson Motors selling cars every summer for 14 years and he officiated basketball games with his good friend Jim Collins for nearly 30 years. He was a crop adjuster with his good friend Lane Solemsaas and was a tax preparer for 40 years. Harvey also kept books for various businesses over the years. These jobs were all done in addition to his main role as a teacher. After retiring from teaching, Harvey worked alongside his brother Floyd and nephew Ken at Herslip Construction. He also started his own small business called Dakota Plains Construction.

Harvey ’s hobbies included hunting and the building of a deer blind on the farm years ago. He loved his jeep, affectionately known as ‘Juck’ which included giving and receiving ducks from other jeep owners. He gardened at home and on the farm until his death and mowed the grass weekly at the farm until his health failed in August 2026. He was a skilled woodworker with trim work being his specialty. Family members enjoyed the custom stools, shelves, and tables crafted by his hands over the years. He could fix anything for anyone, often minutes after the words were out of someone’s mouth, he was there to help and get it done.

Pride was his family. He and Florence were blessed with three children, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Summer weekends were spent camping with family and friends. Sundays were reserved for trips to the farm, a gathering place for the whole extended family.

He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, where he served as the Sunday School Superintendent and Elder of the church.

Harvey ’s legacy is raising almost one million dollars for a Miracle Field for children and youth with disabilities. The Dreamcatchers team was a passion for him, not only for his four grandchildren with Down syndrome, but for a whole community. The special surface allows ALL children to participate in America’s favorite pastime of baseball. Three years ago, the complex was named the Harvey Herslip Dreamcatcher ’s Ballpark.

Those left to share in his memory are his loving wife of 67 years, Florence, Minot; children Paula (Kevin) Burckhard, Minot, Karla Ledum, San Antonio, TX and Joe (Brenda) Herslip, Turtle Lake, ND; grandchildren Elizabeth (Shane) Martwick, Sam Burckhard, Grace Burckhard, Bella Burckhard, Nole’ Burckhard and Simas Burckhard, Alexandra Ledum, Kassandra Ledum, Julianna (Clay) Froseth, Victoria Ledum and Natasha Ledum; great-grandchildren Haley and Charli Martwick; sister Avis Rogers, Billings, MT; numerous nieces and nephews along with his beloved pets Roux, Gus and Mister.

Harvey was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law David Ledum, brother Floyd Herslip, brother-in-law Rich Rogers and nephews Clarence ‘Buck’ Rogers and Roland Herslip.

Honor Harvey’s memory by sharing a duck, performing a random act of kindness, or simply passing a smile along to a stranger.

Funeral Service: 11:00 am Friday, August 28, 2026 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a recording of the service (available 8/29) access https://www.mtmsales.net/thomas.

To celebrate Harvey’s life and his love for the Jeep tradition, we will have a ‘Take a Duck, Leave a Duck’ basket at the service. Please feel free to bring a rubber duck to leave in Papa’s honor, or take one home as a special memento.

Graveside Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Upham, ND 
Visitation: Thursday, August 27, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Dreamcatchers Program in Minot.