Harold Francis Harris, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Harris, was born September 16, 1926, and spent his early boyhood days at Mantorville, Minnesota. He attended Grade School and High School at Pine Island, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1944. Following a short time at Mankato State College, Mankato, Minnesota, he enlisted in the Air Force. Following his discharge in 1946, Mr. Harris enrolled at St. Cloud State College, St, Cloud, Minnesota, from which school he received his Bachelor's degree in 1949. His education did not stop here. Upon graduating from St. Cloud State, he attended the University of Minnesota for 10 straight summers in order to receive his Master's degree in education. He has also received additional hours towards his Administrative Specialist degree from the University. While attending college, he took out one year from his studies to teach high school and to coach at Bristow, Iowa. Following his graduation, he taught and coached for two years at Westbrook, Minnesota, and taught for five years at Clarkfield, leaving that school system in 1956. His first post as Superintendent of schools was at Cylinder, Iowa, where he served from 1956 until 1958, moving then to Ellendale, Minnesota, where he served as Superintendent from 1958 until 1963. His next Superintendent's position was at Annandale, Minnesota, where he served for two and one-half years until coming to Cresco on December 1, 1965, to assume the Superintendent's post for the Howard-Winneshiek Community School District. While at Cresco, he assisted with the final details of a bond election for a new high school, a second bond issue for completing the high school, and supervised much of the building program. The new high school is to open this fall. He also supervised the planning, construction and use of two new grade school buildings, one at Ridgeway and the other at Lime Springs. Mr. Harris was a member of several state and national educational and administrative organizations, a member of Cresco's First Lutheran Church, American Legion, Kiwanis Club, Cresco Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Lions Club while serving in earlier Superintendent positions. He was married to Darlene Vik of Clarkfield on August 23, 1953. Four children were born to the couple: Linda, 14; Karen, 12; Claude, 10; and Sonja, 5. Mr. Harris died on an island in the Lake of the Woods near Morson, Ontario, Canada, while on a fishing trip with another Howard-Winneshiek School District administrator and two of the school's high school instructors. All four men are believed to have died on July 2, 1968, from a lack of oxygen in the cabin in which they had retired for the evening. Surviving Mr. Harris, in addition to his widow and four children, are his father, Claude Harris of Austin, Minnesota; a step-brother, Lawrence O'Connor of Austin, Minnesota; and three step-sisters: Mrs. Allerd (Marion) Johnson of Stewartville, Minnesota, Mrs. Harold (Charlotte) Dreyer of Austin, Minnesota, and Mrs. William (Evelyn) Hadlow of Hamilton, Montana. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1959 and by his step-mother in 1968. Funeral Services are being held from Cresco's First Lutheran Church at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 6, 1968, with the Rev. Carsten Smeby in charge. Services will also be held from the Clarkfield Lutheran Church, Sunday, afternoon with the church pastor, the Rev. Carroll Bagaason, being assisted by a cousin of Mrs. Harris, the Rev. H. Allen Vik of Austin, Minnesota. Burial will be in the Clarkfield Lutheran Cemetery. The Lord bless the memory of Harold Francis Harris. IN LOVING MEMORY OF Harold F. Harris Born September 16, 1926 ~ Passed away July 2, 1968 Funeral Services Saturday, July 6, 1968, 10:00 a.m. First Lutheran Church, Cresco, Iowa Officiating, Rev. Carsten Smeby Sunday, July 7, 1968, 2:00 p.m. Clarkfield Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Officiating, Rev. C.M. Bagaason Vocalists Roger Nelson Robin Gryting Casket Bearers Warren Proctor ~ Craig Morrison Dr. F.L. Klingle, Jr. ~ Verdell Haakenson John Pugleasa ~ Elder Hoines Honorary Casket Bearers Al Colbert ~ David Adamson Wayne Burns ~ Russell Adamson Paul Grams ~ Dr. L. Bendix Arnold Gruys ~ Minard Edman Paul Freeman ~ C. Henry Crabtree Final Resting Place Clarkfield Lutheran Cemetery Clarkfield, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield, Minnesota