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Hal Bjune


Today, I want to pay tribute to my late friend, Hal Bjune , who passed away on March 23rd.

Hal was originally from Norway and made the journey to the United States when he grew older. He worked as a carpenter throughout his life. Similar to me, he found joy in cycling during his leisure time and had a passion for collecting various items, with a special focus on license plates.

I met Hal several years ago at the Silver State Regional Meetups for license plate enthusiasts are quite common. Both Hal and I shared a deep interest in collecting license plates, particularly those from California.

Every collector eventually reaches a point where they recognize the limitations of their hobby. The realization that we can’t take our cherished license plates with us after passing away can become daunting, especially when dealing with such a heavy collection. Hal understood this approximately five years ago. After that moment, I acquired a significant portion of Hal's collection, which included displays of license plates showcased in museums and Department of Motor Vehicles offices across California. Hal appreciated that I purchased them and was committed to keeping them in their original locations. A respected and trusted collector, known to us both, facilitated the transactions to ensure that the prices reflected the true value.

In the final years of Hal's life, our friendship deepened. We met occasionally, either at license plate gatherings or during visits to his home near Palm Springs. Unfortunately, dementia affected him a few years back. Initially, it progressed slowly, but eventually, he could no longer manage to live on his own. His last year or so was spent in a specialized facility in Palm Springs, dedicated to memory care.

hal_bjune

From what I gathered, the care facility seemed to be a pleasant environment. Sadly, about a month ago, Hal lost his ability to speak and mostly stopped eating, spending most of his days asleep. Tragically, this coincided with a time when his elderly friends were too afraid to venture out due to health concerns. I’m uncertain whether the facility even allowed visitors, and I wouldn’t blame them for their precautions. I fear that during his final month, none of his friends or family were able to make it to see him.

On March 23rd , Hal passed away. That day, we lost a truly joyful, sociable, sincere, and vibrant individual.

Hal Bjune (7/14/1941 - 3/23/2020)