Hal my friend. I am going to miss our long conversations filled with much laughter and love. Have a peaceful journey. May your memory be eternal. I love you. Mary

Our heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family on the passing of your brother Harold.
We loved his stories, laughter, and how he always made everyone around him feel welcomed and loved! It was truly an honor to have known him.

David Glass & daughter Barbara

Sandee, I was just thinking about Harold Lindberg this morning and that I had not written to him since Christmas of 2019. Then your letter came in today’s mail. I have known Harold since his days at Carthage College back in the late 1950’s. While there, he attended our small Carthage Seventh-day Adventist Church. We were blessed on many Sabbaths with Harold’s beautiful singing voice. He was especially appreciative of sister Mabel Hurt and her invitations to Sabbath meals at her home. Mabel and John Hurt worked at Carthage College. Those days at Carthage College meant a lot to Harold and he was always interested in the campus, former faculty, and members of our Adventists Church. Just two years ago he sent me a copy of the book “The Miracle of Carthage”. I will miss Herold’s phone calls and correspondence. May God be with you in this time of loss.

Sandee, here a a few words of how Herold remembered his days in Carthage. Harold Lindberg shared the following memories of the Carthage Church in a letter addressed to Mabel Hurt:
“My dearest Mabel, I am so glad that God reunited us after so many years. I was able to write to you and speak to you on the phone and recall the wonderful Sabbath Days we enjoyed together at the Carthage Adventist Church.
How clearly I recall walking into the Carthage College Student Union and seeing your smiling face each day and your words of faith and hope, that led me to be baptized.”

Often your husband Johnnie Hurt would see Bonnie Martin and myself sitting on a bench-going over the Spirit of Prophecy books as she patiently guided me on the campus of Carthage College. Bonnie was also a student.
I remember Hubert and Eunice Morrs singing at the top of their lungs. “Twas an old Fashioned Meeting in an old fashioned place, where some old fashioned people had some old fashioned Grace”-that was the Carthage Congregation.
Then we would go over to Mabel and Johnnie’s house to enjoy a delicious vegetarian casserole and fellowship on Sabbath. What precious Memories forever engraved upon my heart! Letha Hunter would play the piano and sing “Face to Face with Christ my Savior”
I am reminded of all the Saints sleeping in Jesus waiting for Christ’s return.”
As I memtioned before, Harold Lindberg had a beautiful voice and often honored us with special music

It says in his biographical information above that Harold Lindberg was a devoted member of the Chicago Branch of Tensho-kotai-jingu-kyo. Indeed he was. Although I was not a member of his branch, I knew from our communications that he was active in his faith, active in reaching out to the members, especially those who lived too far for regular attendance. Then when his own attendance became difficult, he was still present in spirit at the meetings, still reaching out to people, making them feel like they really mattered.

In 1994, Harold spoke at two of our major introductory meetings to the Teaching. We will remember him well with his dignity, yet with gentle grace. And to this day, we still talk about how he not only had a kind word but knew how to make us smile!

But more than anything, I have a special thanks to Harold. Between 1961 and 1962, Ogamisama, our founder, traveled to 36 countries to bring our Teaching to the world. Ms Midori Kawaguchi, who traveled as her interpreter, recorded the details of the trip in a daily journal. In 1998, Harold undertook the mighty task of typing up her notes into a voluminous 300-page tome. A few years ago when Ogamisama’s journey was made into a film, Harold’s cleanly typed version became our major resource. I cannot imagine the untold hours that went into typing, retyping, checking and rechecking, until the hard copies saw the light of day.

On the last page of that volume is a poem that Midori wrote to Harold one month before her passing. Today, I find it poignantly applying to Harold. It says…

FOR THOSE I LOVE
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE ME…

When I am gone, release me, let me go…
I have so many things to see and do
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love you can only guess,
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it’s time I travelled alone.

So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for awhile that we must part,
So bless the memories that lie within your heart.

I won’t be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can’t see me, or touch me, I’ll be near,
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear,
All of my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile and “Welcome Home.”

Our condolences to his family. We will miss him, but we know he’s on the other side doing well, and we wish him all the best.

Dear Harold,
I remember the first time I met you. I was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas and you invited me to stay with you when I decided to visit Chicago. Being away from home, I was happy to meet and pray with the doshi who share the same goal of world peace. You welcomed me into your home and treated me like family. It was the beginning of our friendship that has lasted to this day.
When I was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991, you reached out to Wakagamisama, Ogamisama’s son, to tell him about my situation. You told me that Wakagamisama prayed upon hearing about me. I feel that it is because of your sincere concern for my safety that I survived.
After I was married, you became a valued friend to my whole family. Your willingness to share your life’s experiences has been a source of strength and encouragement. Even as your health declined, you continued to reach out to us. We were always amazed at how strong you sounded on the phone despite any health challenges. Your positive outlook on life, your outgoing character, and amazing charisma inspired us.
You did research and kept in close touch with those who assisted Ogamisama during her worldwide mission. By typing the personal accounts of Miss Midori Kawaguchi and Mr. Alex Langhof during Ogamisama’s World Tour to 36 countries, you preserved part of history. My family and so many others treasure these documents that you precisely recorded so that future generations of doshi will know what Ogamisama did to help establish world peace.
We will miss you, and thank you for your sincere efforts during this lifetime. Our souls live forever and we know that you are helping God’s Kingdom in the spiritual world at this moment. Let us continue to pray the powerful prayer for world peace, Na-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo.
My family sends our heartfelt love to Harold’s family.