John Victor Halvorson was born December 20, 1920 at New London, Minnesota to Sigurd J. and Clara A. (Rockney) Halvorson. He graduated from Luther College (1943). He then graduated from Luther Seminary and was ordained in 1945. Halvorson served several congregations in Washington, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa, including Decorah Lutheran Church, before retiring in 1996. He also wrote a number of books including "How Long O Lord? Studies in the Reveleation of St. John," "Human Encounters with Ministry" and "The Ages in Tension."

Halvorson married fellow Luther College student Hazel L. Iverson in 1946. They had four daughters and two sons. He passed away October 2, 2007 in Clifton, Texas.

Obituary, Decorah Public Opinion, October 9, 2007, Vol. 142, Is. 41.

A Biographical Directory of Pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, compiled by John Peterson, Olaf Lysnes, and Gerald Giving, 1952.