Services for Alvin Harmon
On Thursday, August 15, 2019, Alvin Harmon reached for the hand of God, and passed on to his eternal reward.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Chapel, 10 miles south of Bagley, MN, with a visitation one hour prior. A visitation will also be the evening before on Friday, August 23, 2019 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home Chapel in Bagley, MN. Interment will be at the Bagley City Cemetery. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
Alvin was born June 18, 1930, to Bert and Ida (Syverson) Harmon, the oldest of four children. He learned the value of hard work from an early age. At the age of 12, he took over the family farm while his father worked for the war effort in the factories in California. In later life, Alvin enjoyed telling tales of his childhood.
During the Korean War, Alvin was drafted into the Army. Following basic training, he was assigned to the Army base in Kaiserslautern, Germany. While there, he attended engineering school in Murnau, Germany, and graduated at the top of his class. An adventurer at heart, he traveled extensively and would often regale his family and friends with stories of his time in Germany.
Alvin married his wife, Betty Ann Dahl, on December 31, 1957. Together, they had four children. He was proud of their many accomplishments.
He was a “Jack of all trades,” and through his life, he held a number of jobs, including woodsman, truck driver, and shop foreman for the Clearwater County Highway Department.
A man of great faith, he accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1969, and was bold to share his testimony with others.
Alvin was an accomplished and sought-after welder, who continued to accept welding jobs long after retirement.
In 1982, he realized his dream as he started his own business, Harmon Brushing. For the next fourteen years, he worked with his sons, daughters and wife, brushing township roads throughout northern Minnesota. He retired in 1996, but spent the next decade nearly as busy as before.
Due to the seasonal nature of his business, Alvin worked at Wilde Construction in Shevlin during the winter, repairing equipment. He continued to work there after retirement through the transition to MasTec North America.
Alvin was an inventor who was always looking to improve whatever caught his attention. He created his own skidder to assist him with logging, a wood splitter and conveyer to move the wood. In 1981, he began the process of patenting a deer stand. Without blueprints, he created many one-of-kind tools and implements. In his later years, he enjoyed woodworking, and gifted most of his family with boat bookshelves or picture frames.
During his life, he was a friend to many. He will be missed.
Alvin is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty, his children - Eugene, Yvonne Rumsey, Timothy (Isabelle) and Debra, all of Bagley; Grand-daughters Kristine (Teri) Averill, Justine Harmon, Kaitlyn Martine and Gabriella Harmon; five-great grandchildren; sister Carol Olsen of Staples; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his brother, David and sister, Nancy.
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com
