Jarl, was born in Jevnaker, Norway in 1944- Jarl came to the United States in 1956 with his mother and brother Thor
and joined his father who lived in Minot ND
Jarl was a US Navy Vietnam Veteran-serving onboard the USS Bennington CVS-20
he was a active member in the Bla Fjell Sons of Norway chapter.
Jarl and his wife Kaye Fossum moved to Walla Walla from Seattle in 1992, His wife Kaye took a job at the local VA hospital.
Kaye is a registered dietician and continues to fill in at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Veterans Affairs Medical Center
following her retirement in 2001.
Jarl was semi-retired, but still operated his business Fossum Precision Plumbing.
The couple enjoyed riding and packing in the mountains with their Fjord horses.
They enjoyed clearing trails and volunteering with the U.S. Forest Service,