Harvey Donald Piper was born March 29, 1919 on the family farm, in Eldon Twp, near Minnewaukan to Hiram and Hulda (Jacobson) Piper.  He was educated at the Eldon rural school #2, graduated from the Benson County Agricultural and Training School at Maddock and also for several winters, attended agricultural classes at the State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND.  From April of 1942 until September of 1945, Harvey served as a staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps as a radio operator in the C-46 and C-47 planes in the Southwest Pacific Theatre located in New Guinea and the Philippines during WWII.   He married Evelyn L. Schuman on June 18, 1946 at the West Minnewaukan Free Church.  Harvey had worked as a mechanic at the A-One Bit & Tool Company at Tioga, ND, Boeing in Seattle, a bench mechanic at Boemark Missle Company and at one time, owned a TV Repair Shop, however, farming was his life.  He farmed in Aurora Township near Minnewaukan from 1946 until retiring in 1998.  They moved to Rugby in 1997 and in 2004, Harvey entered Long Term Care at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby.

Harvey was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.  Following his marriage, he was a member of West Minnewaukan Free Church until its closure.  Through the years he had held the offices of chairman, secretary, treasurer and trustee in both congregations.  Harvey served 16 years as secretary of the Farmers Union Elevator Board at Minnewaukan,  33 years on the  Aurora Township Board,  served as secretary of the Benson County Coop Credit Union, a member Benson County Farmers Union Board and held memberships in the American Radio Relay League,  Robert Tovsrud VFW Post #757 of Harlow,  American Legion,  and National Rifle Association of America.  Harvey's hobbies included being a licensed amateur radio operator, hunting, fishing, photography, reading ancient and modern history.

Surviving are his wife:  Evelyn of Rugby;  a daughter:  Estelle Harder of Rugby;  a son:  Ronald Piper of Minnewaukan;  2 grandsons:  Ryan Harder of Minnewaukan and Reid Harder of Wahpeton, ND;   a brother:  Robert Piper of Devils Lake;  a sister:  Lorraine (Mrs. Tilford) Fossen of Maddock and a number of nieces and nephews.

Harvey passed away Friday, September 18, 2009, at the Heart of America Medical Center Long Term Care Unit in Rugby, ND.  He was preceded in death by his parents;  brothers:  Henry,  George, and Leroy Piper and sisters:  Ena Loken  and Lois Piper.

Funeral services  Tuesday, September 22, 2009,  1:00 pm at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, rural Minnewaukan, with Pastor Michael Pretzer officiating.

Burial  in the church cemetery.

Military Rites  Robert Tovsrud VFW Post #757 of Harlow, ND.

Visitation  Tuesday at the church from 11am until the time of service.









Condolences:

Sincere sympathy to Harvey's family. I had the priviledge of knowing Harvey for the past 4 years as I have been employed at the Long Term Care Center of Rugby, ND. Harvey loved his family, he loved his country and he loved his Lord. He was definitely an example of "The Greatest Generation".
L.G. Pieterick