Daniel Edward Harmon, 77
Daniel Edward Harmon, 77, died unexpectedly on March 16, 2019, near his home in Kila, while doing what he loved. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, neighbor and friend.
Dan was born on the family farm in Plum City, Wisconsin, on May 30, 1941, to Irene and Andrew Harmon. The family moved to Chester, Montana, several years later to farm near Gilford and eventually south of Chester. Dan graduated from Chester High School in 1959 and soon married his high school sweetheart, Helen Stores. He had a knack for working with machinery, which eventually led to moving his young family to Saint Mary, Montana, to work as a heavy equipment operator. The family relocated to Kalispell in 1965 and Dan continued working as a crane operator for Matelich Construction until beginning his own crane business, Harmon Crane and Rigging, in 1982. He and Helen raised their five children to adulthood before divorcing. In 1999, Dan married Marilyn George and moved to a lake cabin near Kila. Together Marilyn and Dan created a haven, lovingly hosting many gatherings of family and friends.
Dan was gifted at making things work. If the tool for doing the job didn’t exist or wasn’t easy to get, Dan would manufacture it. He liked to work hard — a value he instilled in his children. He reveled in knowing his equipment well enough to take on difficult jobs and was proud to see two of his sons (Mike and Chuck) and one grandson (Logan) follow in his footsteps. As Dan began operating the cranes less frequently, he and Marilyn always had a project going. If he wasn’t working on a home project, he was helping with neighborhood projects; he spearheaded efforts to reduce wildfire fuel, improve road access for emergency vehicles, and build a landing pad for the ALERT air ambulance. In his “leisure” time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and napping.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and his children Danette (Paul) of Spokane, Mike (Sandy), and Chuck (Darla), all of Kalispell, Vonda (Rod) Garcia of Whitefish, and Matt (Pam) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Zane (Kate) Kimes of San Antonio, Texas, Miranda (Larry) Lee and Cody, all of Post Falls, Idaho, Hunter and Hali of Coeur d’Alene, Logan, Lauren and Tessa, all of Kalispell, and Sydney and Barrett Garcia of Whitefish; siblings, Richard (Sharon), Elizabeth (Jerry) Hendrickson, and Judy (Jack) Cozzens, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and five great-grandchildren, Xander and Nixon Lee, Brynn and Tess Kimes and Beckam Emborg.
A private family memorial service is being planned for 11 a.m. Sunday, March 31, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Please join the family in celebrating a life well-lived with a reception and lunch at the Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn & Suites (formerly White Oak Lodge) near Somers, at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry or Smith Valley Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.
Friends are encouraged to visit the, website at www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.