Harold "Curly" F. Trout

Passed away August 3, 2026.

A Celebration of Curly's Life will be held 2:00 pm Monday, August 17, 2026 with visitation beginning at 1:00 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant St. SE., Prior Lake. Pastor Chris Cleveland will officiate. Curly will be laid to rest at Spring Lake Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be used by Harold "Curly" Trout's family to honor his memory.

Harold "Curly" Trout was born on September 25, 1934, in Staples, Minnesota, to Edward and Amelia Trout. He was the ninth child born into a family of thirteen children and grew up on the family farm near Fawn Lake and Browerville with eleven brothers and sisters. Life on the farm taught him the values of hard work, responsibility, determination, and standing up for those he loved. Those lessons remained with him throughout his life and became the foundation of the man he would become.

Curly attended Staples High School before continuing his education at trade school.

Curly met the love of his life, Joyce, in Rockford, Illinois. Joyce often said that the moment she saw him, she knew he was her knight in shining armor. They were married on January 16, 1960. Shortly after they were married, Curly proudly joined the United States Army. During his military service, Joyce joined him at Fort Leonard Wood in Pulaski County, Missouri. Following his military service, the couple eventually returned to Rockford, Illinois.

Curly began his career as a conductor for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, where he dedicated many years of service before the railroad later became part of Union Pacific Railroad. He was respected by those who worked beside him, and many railroad friends would later recall stories of his toughness, loyalty, and willingness to stand up for what he believed was right.

In 1964, Curly and Joyce moved their growing family to Minnesota with their five children, where they would soon welcome their sixth child. Minnesota became home, where they raised their family and built a lifetime together.

Curly believed life was meant to be lived. An undefeated Golden Gloves boxer, he possessed extraordinary determination and confidence. His adventurous spirit led him to ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles, earn his pilot's license, and obtain his auctioneer's license.

Although many people remembered Curly for his toughness, those closest to him knew another side of him. He had an incredibly curious mind and loved crossword puzzles, card games, practical jokes, and anything that challenged him to think. Dad had a natural gift for math and numbers, and he even created his own math games to teach his children. Some of his children's favorite memories were the countless hours spent around the kitchen table playing cards and checkers with Dad. Those simple moments of laughter, competition, and time together became treasured family memories.

Music was another important part of family life. Curly and Joyce loved country music and dancing, and one of their children's favorite memories was listening to Dad play the organ while Mom sang.

One of Curly's favorite stories took place in 1965 while riding his white Harley-Davidson. As he pulled alongside a limousine outside Metropolitan Stadium, he looked over to discover he was riding next to none other than The Beatles. It became one of the family's favorite stories to tell.

If there was one quality that defined Curly throughout his life, it was courage. He had little patience for bullies and never backed away from someone who was intimidating or hurting another person. Throughout his life, family, friends, and railroad coworkers shared countless stories of Curly standing up for those who could not stand up for themselves. Whether those stories took place in his hometown, on the railroad, or somewhere in between, they all reflected the same man—someone who refused to be intimidated and believed enough was enough.

One family story involved the "Turner Brothers," two men who had earned a reputation as the bullies of the town. While most people avoided them, Curly stood his ground, took on both brothers, and earned their respect. From that day forward, whenever they crossed paths, the brothers simply tipped their hats and greeted him with respect.

Another story that reflected Curly's protective nature occurred one evening as he returned home from work. Seeing a man peering through the window of his home while Joyce was inside alone, Curly quietly turned off his headlights and pursued the intruder, making it unmistakably clear that no one would threaten his family without consequence. Those who knew Curly understood there was nothing he would not do to protect the people he loved.

Although Curly's toughness became legendary, those closest to him knew him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and teacher. He believed in hard work, responsibility, and leading by example. He expected his children to keep their commitments, respect others, stand on their own two feet, and always take care of their families. He believed your word mattered and that no matter how difficult life became, you faced it head-on without giving up. Those values became one of the greatest gifts he passed on to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Curly is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce; his children, Vernon (Cassie), Roger (Kimmie), Harold Jr. (Cheryl), Shannon (Daniel), Sharon, and Joseph (Robin); 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Geneva, Rose Marie, and Eileen, and his brothers, Don and Mick.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Amelia Trout; his brothers Cliff, Walt, Art, and Richard; his sisters Frances, who passed away at the age of five, and Virginia; and an infant sibling who passed away at birth. He was also preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Jacki; his sons-in-law, Timothy and Gary; his grandson, Zedekiah; and his granddaughter, Azure.

Harold "Curly" Trout lived life with courage, conviction, and an unwavering devotion to his family. His legacy is found not only in the stories that will continue to be shared, but also in the values he passed from one generation to the next. He taught his family to work hard, honor their commitments, stand up for what is right, protect those they love, and never give up. Those lessons—and the example he set every day—will continue to live on in all who knew and loved him.