Dolores Harris

My Life Story Dolores Aneta Harris passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital in Meridian, Idaho on June 9th at the age of 94. She was born in Towner County, Cando, North Dakota on January 8, 1921 to Owen and Ethel Burkhart Stong, the oldest of 8 children. Dolores attended one room country schools for her first eight grades. When she was in the 6th grade, she won 3rd place in the State Spelling Bee. She graduated from Cando High School as valedictorian of her class. After graduation she worked in the County Agent’s office of Towner County. While there, the US Government defense department was looking for clerical workers to be employed in the new Pentagon Building in Washington, DC. She was accepted for a position there as a Junior Stenographer and moved into the first office in that new building March 20th, 1941. Dolores excelled at taking shorthand – a skill she was just recently sharing with her great grandchildren. She married Orville R. Harris of Minot, ND July 7th, 1941. After the war, they lived in ND and later Farragut, Idaho where her husband went to school. They then moved to Seattle in 1949 where they raised their 2 children, David Owen (Dianna) who lives in Santa Cruz, CA and Barbara Delle Palmer (Ollie) who lives in Boise, Idaho. In Seattle she worked as an executive secretary at Sears and Roebuck Company, H.C. Henry and Co. and the American Board of Urology. After her retirement and the death of her husband, she moved to Edmunds, WA, Albany OR and finally to Boise, ID to be near her daughter. Dolores had many hobbies. She loved to fish for salmon with her husband not far from their beloved Beach house on Whidbey Island, Washington. At one point they caught a 49 pound halibut and many big salmon! She knit many beautiful garments for her family and herself on her knitting machine. She loved to hand knit and also hook rugs. She played the organ and the piano at her church in Seattle for over 40 years. She played for elaborate Easter Cantatas. Dolores was an avid bridge player, playing in many clubs and continued playing until her death. Scrabble and pinochle were other favorite games. Dolores loved traveling and enjoyed a many trips in the United States as well Japan, Europe and Australia. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and two brothers, Jerrold and Kenneth. In addition to her children, she is survived by four sisters, Donna Henning of Albany, OR, Eulalie Geer of Minneapolis, MN, Mary Ellen Farbo (Denzil) of Willcox, AZ, Ethel Marie Ellingson of Albany, OR and one brother, Ronald (Darlene) of Minneapolis, MN. She was blessed with seven grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. The services celebrating her life will be held at the Morningstar Senior Living Center, 5850 N Five mile Rd, Boise on Saturday, June 13th at 2pm. A second service will be held in Albany, OR on June 20th. Arrangements are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian. Remembrances for the family may be left online at www.AccentFuneral.com Dolores was an inspiration and a wonderful example to all of us who loved her dearly. She taught us that the oldest child, especially the oldest daughter must be brave, graceful and intelligent; A woman of peace first and quiet dignity.