Haans Jorgen Halvorson was born on February 7, 1986, in Sidney, Montana, the third son of Thomas Roger Halvorson and Marilyn Hope (Leastman) Halvorson. He was baptized into Christ on July 27, 1986, at Sidney Lutheran Brethren Church. He was raised with home devotions, Sunday school, church youth group, Eastern Montana Bible Camp, and church services. He was a member of Sidney Lutheran Brethren Church and served there as a sound board operator.

Haans attended Rau Elementary School, Sidney Middle School, and Sidney High School, graduating in 2005. He was a member of concert choir and he sang solos at district music festivals. He played baritone in school bands. In his senior year, he received the Screamin’ Eagle award for school spirit in the Pep Band. After high school, Haans attended Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, North Dakota where he earned an associate in arts degree in American Sign Language. He was a stage lighting operator for the student production of the play, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” After graduation, he used his sign language skill to sign hymns and patriotic songs for various occasions in various places around Sidney. He served as a sign language interpreter for the Deaf Olympics in Salt Lake City.

After college, Haans worked as grocery store stock man, in hospital food service, and as a cook.

A member of Boy Scout Troop 141, Haans earned the rank of Eagle and was elected to the Order of the Arrow. He remained an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 141 at the time of his death. He was a member of Fort Union Muzzleloaders and a U. S. Park Service Volunteer giving historical interpretation at Fort Union. He was a licensed ham radio operator.

Born with a severe speech disorder, it took Haans several years of speech therapy before people who did not know him could understand his speech. He was always sensitive on behalf of anyone who was misunderstood, left out, or hurting in some way. He had a gift of sympathizing and consoling. He was known at work for greeting his co-workers with a shout of “Good morning, Team Sidney” and brightening the atmosphere throughout his shift. He was quick to befriend new teammates.

Haans died in the Lord on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

Haans was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather and grandmother, Oscar Henry Halvorson and Fay Carol (Lufkin) Halvorson; his maternal grandfather, Wallace John Leastman; his paternal uncle, David Phillip Halvorson; and his maternal aunt, Doris (“Mandy”) Lynn (Phillips) Leastman.

Haans is survived by his father and mother; his maternal grandmother Barbara Ann (Testa) Leastman, Gillette, Wyoming; his paternal great aunt, Phyllis Elaine Lufkin, Williston, North Dakota; his brother and sister-in-law, Leif Eric Halvorson and Kimberly Adele (Miller) Halvorson, Sidney, Montana; his brother and sister-in-law, Cedric Arthur Halvorson and Megan Ann (Oldynski) Halvorson, Sidney, Montana; nieces Signe and Brynja Halvorson (Leif & Kim), and Ezri and Zoe Halvorson (Cedric & Megan), all of Sidney, Montana; nephews Garrick Halvorson (Leif & Kim) and Jayden and Kaelis Halvorson (Cedric & Megan), all of Sidney, Montana; paternal uncle Richard Nathan Halvorson, Williston, North Dakota; paternal aunt and uncle Cynthia Karen Halvorson and Bernd Waldmann, Hannover, Germany; paternal aunt Deborah Gail Halvorson, Williston, North Dakota; maternal uncle and aunt David John Leastman and Lorayne Adellas (Hayden) Leastman, Carpenter, Wyoming; maternal aunt and uncle Carolyn Faith (Leastman) Wiebe and Joel Sheldon Wiebe, Ranson, West Virginia; and maternal uncle and aunt Wallace Mark Leastman and Linda Lee Leastman, Vancouver, British Columbia.