Vesta Mae Harms

Vesta Mae Harms, 90, of Willow Lake died Saturday, November 26, 2011, at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Willow Lake with Pastor Lois Aroian officiating. Honorary casketbearers will be her granddaughters: Kari Huber, Kristi Slater, Vonni Knutson, Tracey Spielmann, Rachelle Retzer and Heather Morrell. Her grandsons, Kendall, Jeremy, Nathan and Jonathan Harms, Jason and Jory Denman and Todd Sprang, will serve as the active casketbearers. Music will be provided by Jody Symens as organist and special music Dorothy Haug, Melanie Schmidt and Henry Johnson and a solo by D.J. Retzer. Interment will follow at the Collins Cemetery in Willow Lake. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-7PM with a public prayer/sharing service at 7PM all in the United Presbyterian Church at Willow Lake. Visitation will continue on Wednesday morning after 9AM also in the Church. Vesta Mae Anderson, daughter of Neal and Ethel (Grimm) Anderson, was born on September 15, 1921, at her parents' farm home southeast of Hitchcock, SD. She moved as a teenager 10 miles north of Huron, SD, and in February 1937 moved south of Willow Lake. She worked in homes doing housework and taking care of mothers and new babies. She met Tebbo Harms in early 1938 at Choir practice, Sunday School, and church services at the Reformed Church in Willow Lake. She loved music and sang in the church choir over 40 years. She married Tebbo September 24, 1939, at the Reformed Church in Willow Lake. To this union five children were born. They lived on a farm for five years and then purchased a gas station in Willow Lake in 1945 and moved into Willow Lake. She worked in a small café for 3 years and worked at the locker in Willow Lake for 11 years. Later she worked in the Hot Lunch room at the school for 11 years. She then babysat 3 children in her home for 5 years. She lived in the same house for 62 years. Tebbo passed away on their 47th anniversary, September 24, 1986. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Willow Lake. She taught Sunday School for a few years. Vesta loved working outside and took great pride in her flowers, yard, and home. Her family always came first and she loved having the house filled with laughter when her children came home. She enjoyed playing Yahtzee, Solitaire, and watching the Minnesota Twins. She enjoyed traveling and she and Tebbo were able to see 47 states. Grateful for sharing her life are her five children: Garald (Vergean) Harms of Grand Forks, ND; Marlys (Robert) Sprang of Mitchell, SD; Gary (Juel) Harms of Aberdeen, SD; twins: Janice (Melvin) Beyers of Roscoe, SD, and Janet (Ronald) Denman of Willow Lake; 13 Grandchildren and 27 Great-Grandchildren; one brother, Lloyd (Ardis) Anderson of Willow Lake; and one sister, Elaine Lamp of Willow Lake. Preceding her in death were her beloved husband, her parents, an infant brother, two nephews, Kenneth Lamp and LeRoy Anderson, and brother-in-law, Don Lamp. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com