Douglas James Harrington

Douglas James Harrington of Raymond went home to be with his Lord and Savior on November 19, 2022. He left this world with his family by his bedside at Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD

He was born on July 17,1954, the sixth child out of 11 children born to Jim and Mavis (Thompson) Harrington of Watertown.  At the age of 11, he started a paper route (Route #7)  for the Watertown Public Opinion and has worked ever since. He later drove a motor route delivering papers along with delivering the Minneapolis Tribune on Sundays  to small area towns. At age 13 he purchased his first Suzuki motorcycle and kept it in the basement until 14 when he could officially drive it.  Doug along with his brothers learned at the elbow of their father, all about cars, as Jim did engine work in the evenings in  addition to  working as a mail carrier for the U.S. post office. Doug  graduated from Watertown High School in 1972.  After working at Bud's Standard Station in Watertown, he entered the U.S.Air Force, following in the footsteps of his father and four older brothers serving in the military. He worked as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist, mainly on the KC 135s.

He met Kimberly Monahan on a  blind date and drove back and forth to date her for two years traveling 400 miles each weekend from Grand Forks, N.D.  The couple were married on October 4, 1975 at the Bergen Lutheran Church  and moved to Grand Forks until he was discharged from the service.  The couple moved to Watertown after Doug was honorably discharged in 1977. Doug attended and graduated from LATI's  Air Frame and Power Plant getting his associates degree.

Towards the end of his schooling he started driving a cement mixer for Concrete Dakota and continued working in Watertown while Kimberly started her Sasco Aloe Vera business out of their home.

At the age of 27, he quit working and the two worked together in the Sasco Aloe Vera business for a year and a half. After that he started working at the ByPork Pig Farm and found  he was a natural with animals and worked his way up to manager of the entire hog confinement unit (ByPork)  northeast of Watertown. In 1988, he transferred to the largest confinement in the state (D and D Farms Unit #2) being built north of Pierre.  In 1991, he climbed the ladder with the PIC (Pig Improvement Company) and moved to Muscoda, Wis.

During these years the family grew.  Kelsi was born in 1986, Jacob was born in 1988 and Lacey was born in 1993.

In 1993, the family moved to the Raymond area, to the (BHS) Confinement hog farm  where Doug was acting manager. In 1997 he  was featured in the  Hogs Today magazine, and  was the cover story earning two first places out of 400 farms in the "I sold the Best" contest .  He later worked for Pipestone Systems south of Clark for a few years until beginning work as a Direct Support Professional at the South Dakota Developmental Center in Redfield in 2009 until the present time when his health forced him onto medical leave at the beginning of October.

Doug could look at any car or motorcycle and tell you what year and make it was and even what years they made that style.  He had  many different cars, most of them Chevys, and one older Ford truck. He enjoyed riding motorcycles since a boy and for several years the family owned a boat and enjoyed boating and skiing.  He thoroughly enjoyed being a Dad and training his children in many areas. Doug had a very good sense of humor and used it often in life.

He was always dedicated to his jobs, patriotic,  and had a great work ethic.

Over the years he was a member of  St. Martin's  Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, and the First Presbyterian Church in Raymond, and when not working, the Baker Post #209 American Legion Post.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 47 years, Kimberly Harrington of Raymond, Kelsi (Nathan) Arbach of Eureka, Jacob Harrington and special friend Britany Gullickson of Henry and  Lacey (Jerry) Lohr of Burnsville, Minn. He is also survived by three grandsons, whom he thoroughly enjoyed- Drew, Jason and Evan Arbach; his mother-in-law Lois Monahan of Watertown; siblings,  John (Ginger) Harrington of Texas, sister-in-law Lois Harrington of Watertown, David Harrington of Watertown, Gary (Judy) Harrington of Colorado, Susan Stewart of Minnesota,  Bruce (Melanie) Harrington of Watertown,  Janet (Royal) Rosheim of Bradley,  Tom (Leanne) Harrington of Waubay, Brian (Laurie) Harrington of Watertown and Mary Harrington of Texas; brother-in-law Ryan Monahan of Watertown and sister-in-law Julie (Brian) Olson of Watertown; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Mavis Harrington,  father-in-law Gene Monahan, brother Donny Harrington, nephews, Paul Harrington and Matt Kenning and sister-in-law Becky (Chavez) Harrington.

A visitation will be held at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark, SD on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM and one hour prior to the service. A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022 at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown, SD at 5:30 PM with supper to follow in the Great Hall. Burial will be held at the Bergen Cemetery on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 1:00 PM with full Military Honors.

Arrangements are being handled by the Furness Funeral Home of Clark, SD where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com .