Harold Edward Chittim, 94

Harold Edward Chittim of Harrington, Wash., passed away on Saturday, April 24, 2010, in Davenport, Wash. He was born in Bozeman on Oct. 26, 1915, to Edward Hope Chittim and Myrtle Leona Michener Chittim. At the age of 7, he developed scarlet fever and died, according to the doctor. His parents wouldn t give up, so they brought him back to life and he lived another 87 years, to go from riding horseback to school to flying all over the world. Being raised in the country, he quickly learned the value of good, hard, physical work, and that smart thinking made even the physical labor more fruitful. He graduated from Stevensville High School in 1934. After working at different jobs on the local farm scene, he started working for Montgomery Ward in Missoula in 1937 as a serviceman, transferring to Kalispell in 1941 as service manager. Improvising and making do with parts during World War II helped him make the transition to starting his own business. He owned and operated Harold s Refrigeration in Kalispell for over 30 years before becoming an HVAC engineer in the hotel business. He not only worked in engineering but had his real estate license and dealt with moving of the properties in which he worked. He was a master electrician, held a gas fitter s card and was a member of the U.S., Montana and Kalispell chambers of commerce. He retired at age 84, ending a very successful career that spanned over three-quarters of a century. He moved to Harrington in 1982 and commuted in his engineering work until his retirement in 2000. Harold was past Grand Master of the Kalispell Masonic Lodge No. 42 A.F. and F.M., and was associated with the Methodist church his entire life. He spent his summers in Harrington and winters in Vancouver to be near his loved ones. He loved his family and enjoyed spending his retirement years working side-by-side with them. His mind was like a sponge and he never quit learning or teaching his children and grandchildren, and loved watching them put the knowledge into practice. In 2009, he gave one of the greatest gifts of his life to his children by writing his complete life story, with the instructions, to be continued. Harold married Alta Virginia Keene in 1939, and raised seven children from that marriage. He married Lola Belle Johnson in 1976. He is survived by daughters, Billie Herron and Gordon of Harrington, Ann Hill and Steve of Maple Valley, Wash., Phyllis Lauckner and Al of Moses Lake, Wash., Mary Timperley and Stan of Vancouver, Wash.; son, Dick Chittim and Jeri of Corvallis, Ore.; and son-in-law, Buck Holley of Hartford, Ala. He leaves 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are a brother, Charles Pat and Virginia Chittim of Wenatchee; three sisters, Ora Punky and Ed Carlin of Everett, Wash., Mary Tilly Kane-Phillips of Everett, Wash., Myrtle Mickey Brechbill of Florence; and one sister-in-law, Irene Burns of White Sulphur Springs. He is also survived by five stepchildren, Sharon Clemou of Porterville, Calif., Darrell Johnson and Jeanie Halverson of Astoria, Ore., Linda Mabou of San Francisco, Cathy Haupt and Ed of Longview, Wash., and several step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Alta; second wife, Lola; daughter, June Holley; son, Buck Chittim; grandson, Horace Paul Holley; brother, Lewis; and sister, Dolly. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 30, at the Harrington United Methodist Church, with burial at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. Memorials may be made to the Harrington Opera House, P.O. Box 618, Harrington, WA 99134-0618.