Grieving Widow Receives Helping Hand From Community As 1,400 Acres Of Late Husband's North Dakota Farm Are Harvested

When a farmer in Antler, North Dakota, tragically died this fall, the farming community rallied together to ensure the harvest would not be a burden on the late farmer's widow. Here, Kharra and Randy Fyllesvold can be seen, as well as the team of community farmers who helped Randy's family after his death. (Photo credit: Kharra Fyllesvold / Facebook)

Farming Community Comes Together To Help A Late Peer’s Family

Every married couple prays they won’t have to face the tragedy of losing a spouse, but that happened this fall in the Fyllesvold family.

Based out of North Dakota, Randy and Kharra Fyllesvold had been married for almost 17 years when Randy was suddenly killed in a car crash at the age of 43 on September 9, 2025.

Randy and Kharra had relocated within North Dakota in 2019, moving to Antler, North Dakota, so that Randy could help Kharra’s father, Larry Peterson, work on his farm.

For Randy, farming was a way of life, and his obituary lovingly noted, “In addition to farming, he helped other farmers with their projects.”

That help he gave them was returned in spades, and in a very special way, after Randy died.

See How Farmers Helped Their Late Friend’s Widow

Leading the charge in helping Randy’s widow, Kharra, with the farm were Wyatt Thompson and Andy Gates.

“I didn’t want to put the burden on Larry [Peterson], the father-in-law, that [Randy] farmed with,” said Gates in a statement to KFYRTV. “I told Larry, ‘Don’t worry about the corn, we’ll just get it all.'”

Dividing into teams, Thompson and Gates led a team of 75 volunteers through the process of harvesting soybeans, canola, and corn from Randy’s farm.

Thompson recalled, “The corn harvest was the big one, I mean, there’s a lot of moving parts that need to happen with corn, and a lot of bushels to move at once.”

Gates noted, “Just looked at the sheet, who everybody was, it was kind of divide and conquer. We divided the combines up amongst three different fields and three different groups and divided trucks up amongst everybody.”

All of this was accomplished in two days in November.

Of this help, Kharra wrote in a statement on social media, which was shared by KFYRTV, “After tragically losing [Randy], we were left with more than 1,000 acres of corn still standing. It felt overwhelming — until the communities he had touched so deeply rallied around us. What happened next was nothing short of breathtaking.“

“Seeing all of you out in those fields, pouring your heart into that harvest, is something I will never forget. As I looked at each face, memories of Randy and the moments he shared with so many of you came rushing back. It was a day filled with both joy and sorrow — joy in witnessing such incredible love, and sorrow in knowing it marked the final harvest of his life’s work.

Continuing, she wrote, “There are no words for what it feels like to watch the last of a farmer’s hard work being combined. To see his years of dedication gathered into one final semi load. But through those two days, my boys and I felt one thing more than anything else: blessed. Truly, deeply blessed.”

Kharra added:

“We love every single one of you who showed up, who worked, who supported us, who grieved with us. We know your hearts hurt too. And I hope you know how proud Randy would be of each and every one of you—for your kindness, for your strength, and for the love you showed our family.

Concluding her message, Kharra wrote, “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. God bless you all.”