Cleo Josephine (Haynes) Harr, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 3, 2024 surrounded by her family. Cleo was born on November 9, 1933, to Harvey and Lois LeClair-Haynes in Pettibone, ND. She spent her early years in Pettibone, ND before moving to Jamestown, ND. Growing up in Jamestown, she enjoyed music, playing French horn in the band, listening to polka and spending time with her friends. Cleo graduated from Jamestown High School May 29, 1952, and it was during her later years at Jamestown high school that she met the love of her life, Vernon Harr. They were married May 11, 1953. Vernon and Cleo established a growing and successful family farm near Vernon’s childhood home south of Buchanan ND. While Vernon spent his time growing crops, Cleo nurtured beautiful gardens of vegetables and flowers. She had a green thumb, and her flower beds were stunning. One of her favorite past times was enjoying the birds and butterflies that came to visit her flowers. Cleo worked hard on the farm. During the early farming years, she helped save in expenses by sewing clothes; pants, suits, shirts – you name it! Cleo did not know how to cook when she began her married life, but being thrown into the fire so to speak, she learned and learned well! She was creative and at the same time frugal. During the growing and harvesting season her days were spent preparing meals, delivering them to the field, serving family and the farm hands, cleaning and getting ready to do it all over again. She shared these skills with her church family too and was actively involved in food committees, feeding the church family, contributing to potlucks and serving sabbath dinners to family and friends. Cleo believed in good food that was healthy and balanced and she passed those skills on to her children. Cleo and Vernon worked hard but also played hard. During those years there were many fun times getting together with family and friends from picnics and baseball games with the Harr family, Saturday afternoons at her parents, and card playing parties with family and friends.
Near and into their retirement years, Cleo and Vernon enjoyed spending time at their lake home on West McDonald Lake (Dent, MN). She loved being surrounded by family on pontoon rides around the lake and going to the community art and craft festivals. She would soak in the beautiful view from the lakeside yard, watching and listening to the birds. She was thrilled to see the shy pileated woodpecker but, by far, her favorite was watching the loons with the chicks on their back and listening to their soulful call. For the last 8 years, Cleo was blessed to reside at Eventide Senior Living where life was easier, she made several good friends, enjoyed daily activities and especially loved visits from her family.
She is survived by her children – Teree (Jerry) Rittenbach; Peg (Bob) Tinker, Pam (Jim) Wenzel, and Curt (Melinda) Harr, her grandchildren Jeremy, Joshua, and Christopher Rittenbach; Jason Tinker; Abby Olson and Brian Wenzel; Lauren and Sam Harr, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. She is also survived by her sister LaVerne (Haynes) Giangregoria. Cleo was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, parents Lois and Harvey Haynes, brother, Brian Haynes and Grandson, Chad Tinker.
In celebration of her life, family will be receiving friends at Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown, ND, on Wednesday, May 8th, 5-7p.m.
Funeral service will be held at Jamestown Seventh Day Adventist Church on Thursday, May 9 at 2:30 PM and will be livestreamed on Cleo’s obituary page at www.eddyfuneralhome.com. Interment will be at Highland Home Cemetery followed by fellowship and a meal at the Jamestown Seventh Day Adventist Church’s Fellowship Hall.
Cleo often contributed to JRMC and the family prefers to continue that tradition through memorials to: JRMC Foundation, 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, ND 58401.
Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.