Harris J. Dethmers

HARRIS JOHN DETHMERS was born to John and Martha (Van Essen) Dethmers on February 15, 1930 on a farm near Hatfield, Minnesota where he was raised and attended county school in District 47. Upon completion of his education, he helped on the family farm. On August 31, 1950, he was united in marriage to Jeanette Brouwer at her parents’ home in Edgerton, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they lived and farmed south of Holland, Minnesota where Harris raised cattle, chickens, hogs and grain. While farming, he also worked as a crop adjustor for American Ag. Jeanette preceded him in death on November 23, 2003. After her death, Harris continued to farm until his retirement in 2007. In 2010, Harris moved into Pipestone where he lived at the Ridgeview Estates until moving to Falls Landing in 2012. In June of 2014, Harris moved into the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone where he lived until his death on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at the age of 84 years, 10 months and 26 days.

Harris was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holland. Farming was his life-long love.

He is lovingly remembered by his six children: Alvira (Richard) Stempges of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Evelyn (David) Wurscher of Sioux Falls, John Dethmers of Holland, Minnesota, Dianne (Arvid) Otkin of Lake Benton, Minnesota, Dean (Joni) Dethmers of Pipestone, and Jacqueline (Leonard) Hubner of Pipestone; ten grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Myra Kooiman of Edgerton, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his wife; an infant daughter, Vonda Lee; one great-grandson, Scott Wiese; and brother-in-law Earl Kooiman.