Harriet Dent

Harriet C. Dent, 102,  passed away peacefully in her apartment at Rising Mountains Assisted Living in Bigfork, Montana the evening of January 14, 2023. She had a long, happy life with few ailments. 

A memorial is planned in Staples on September 17, 2023, which would have been Harriet and Wally’s 84th wedding anniversary.  

Harriet was born July 14, 1920, to George and Ema (Rietz) Christensen in Arco. She spent her childhood in Arco, before moving to Anoka with her mother at the age of 16. There she graduated from Anoka High School and then received her degree from Minnesota Business College. 

One day in late summer of 1939, Harriet missed her ride to work in Minneapolis, so she hitched a ride with a truck driver she knew across the street. On that faithful day, there was a ‘cute young man’ riding along to help unload the truck. They made a date to go dancing that Saturday, and a mere three weeks later she married that ‘cute young man’, James Wallace “Wally” Dent on September 17, 1939. 

Harriet and Wally moved to International Falls where they lived for 13 years. There they had two daughters: Katherine Joyce and Beverly Cleone. 

In 1951, the family left International Falls and were on their way to Pocatello, Idaho. Along the way they stopped in Staples, Minnesota to visit family and they never left as Wally got a job with the railroad. Harriet started work as the Secretary for the Superintendent of Staples Public Schools where she worked for 25 years before retiring. After retirement, Harriet and Wally enjoyed traveling the country.

Harriet was a very active member of the Staples Community and the Faith Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Staples Lions Club, Eastern Star, the American Legion Auxiliary and Faith Lutheran Circle. Some of her more predominant volunteer work included: the Staples Food Shelf, Hospital Auxiliary, Staples Lions Club, Faith Lutheran Church, Meals on Wheels and Red Hatter’s. Harriet received the Chairman’s Award in 2009 in honor of her countless hours of volunteer work…of which she loved every minute.

In 2017, at 97, Harriet moved to Bigfork, Montana to be closer to daughter, Beverly and family.

Harriet  is survived by one daughter, Beverly; four grandchildren, James, Jeff, Jason and Amy; six great-grandchildren and one son-in-law, Larry.

She is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Cleo and Gwen; husband, Wally; one daughter, Kathy and one son-in-law, Randy. 

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