After a long and fulfilling life, Harald P. Bakke passed away on Sunday, March 22, at the age of 99, surrounded by loved ones. He would have said he "stopped reading" that day, his lighthearted way of speaking about death.

Harald was a gentleman in every sense of the word and lived his life with integrity, gratitude, and a generous spirit. He is deeply missed and his memory is kept alive through the stories shared by family and friends, and through the wisdom and love they carry onward.

Born on March 19, 1927, at Steinsland near Bergen, Norway, Harald grew up in the fishing village with his parents, Hermine and Peder Bakke, and his sister Else, who was two years older. When Harald was ten years old, his mother died, and her sister, Tante Kaia, kept her promise to be a steady, loving, and guiding presence in both Harald's and Else's lives. He remained close throughout his life to his sister Else and to his cousins from Steinsland, Astrid and Hans Gulbrand.

Harald completed his secondary education in Bergen, and then worked on a fishing boat before emigrating to Minnesota in January 1950. He was sponsored by his uncle and aunt, Karl and Olga Bakke, who lived in Mankato, Minnesota. After a semester at Gustavus Adolphus College, Harald continued his education in Minneapolis and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in structural engineering from the University of Minnesota.

In 1952, he met Synnøve Nossen (1925–2015) from Fredrikstad, Norway, who was working as a nurse at Asbury Methodist Hospital. They married in 1956 and built their life together in Plymouth, Minnesota, where they raised their two children, Paul Magne and Anne Marie. Growing up, the children often heard their parents say, "We are so lucky to have both of you, and you keep us young."

Harald and Synnøve created a warm and welcoming home at 815 Kingsview Lane, simply referred to as "Kingsview Lane" throughout their lives. Fond memories were made with den norske gjengen, the large group of Norwegian friends, and with neighbors who remained close for more than fifty years. Dinners, parties, Christmas luminaria, and New Year's Eve celebrations created a deep sense of community and extended family. Together with den norske gjengen, there were weekend ski trips to Lutsen and Telemark, Memorial Day picnics at the Hansens, and dinners at the homes of many friends in the Norwegian circle.

In 1967, Harald co-founded the consulting firm Bakke & Kopp, which later evolved into Bakke, Kopp, Ballou and McFarlin, now known as BKBM Structural and Civil Engineers. He was a highly respected engineer throughout his career. In 1968, he received an award for the development of the staggered truss. Harald's contribution to structural engineering was again recognized by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) in a letter to BKBM marking its 50th anniversary:

"I also take special note in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the design by Harold Bakke, P.E., of the first staggered truss building at 1300 Wilson Ave. Many staggered truss designs have been built since, but being the first is certainly one of those great milestones. This willingness to utilize new structural concepts in design marked the beginning of BKBM and continues to serve your clients well today.

I can tell you it also served AISC and the steel industry well. Harold's Design Study for a Staggered Truss Building, published by U.S. Steel Corporation, became the foundation that advanced the use of the staggered truss system. Engineering News-Record's selection of Harold Bakke, P.E., as one of those who made their mark in construction for this advancement in steel design, was well deserved."

In the family, Harald was Bestefar to all the grandchildren. He loved them immensely and was incredibly proud of each of them: Rowan, Siri, Tristan, Aleksander, and Mathias. He was encouraging and accepting and wanted them to find happiness, whatever path they chose in life. The one wish he consistently shared with both children and grandchildren was the importance of education. As he said, "Your education can never be taken away from you."

An avid reader, Harald enjoyed The Atlantic and The New Yorker magazines, and books on history, politics, Norwegian-American immigration, engineering, and biographies. He also enjoyed watching the Vikings football team, skiing, boating, and working on projects at the family cabin in Wisconsin and at his childhood home in Norway. He valued fellowship through many years at Torskeklubben and the Norwegian American Technical Society (NATS). Together with Synnøve, he was a member of Mindekirken for more than sixty years, serving as ushers, participating in church life, and serving on the building committee for the "new" addition.

Jamie and her family were an integral part of Harald's and Synnøve's lives and of the entire Bakke family, offering unwavering support, care, and presence over fifteen years. Through generosity, humor, and friendship, Jamie provided extraordinary caregiving. Her family extended that same kindness and friendship, and the Bakke family is grateful beyond words.

Harald moved into St. Therese at Oxbow Lake in December 2019. He made new friends through playing bridge. The highlights of his week expanded beyond Jamie's visits to include bridge games and exercising. On Thursday, March 19, Harald celebrated his 99th birthday with family and friends. On Friday afternoon, he said he was tired and went to rest. He remained resting until he "stopped reading" on Sunday.

Harald is survived by his children, Paul (Ellen) Bakke and Anne Marie (Ottar Kristiansen) Bakke; his grandchildren; Jamie Pfaff and her family; nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Mindekirken, the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, 924 E 21st St., Minneapolis, on May 4, 2026 with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the service at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow. Harald's favorite color was blue, and we encourage everyone to wear blue or their own favorite color, when we gather to celebrate his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Mindekirken, St. Therese at Oxbow Lake, or the Alzheimer's Foundation.