Harlen P. Wash

Harlen Pod Wash was born on December 30, 1936 at 12:10 p.m. weighing 9lbs even and 21 ½ inches long in Elgin, Montana to Charlie "Pod" Wash and his wife Florabel Harkins Wash. He joined his big sister Norella Bea in the family sheep wagon that was their early home on the eastern flats of Carter County, Montana. Sometime later the family moved to a sheep ranch where both his parents were employed as sheepherders. Harlen attended a rural school in his elementary days and then headed to high school in Ekalaka where he was very active in the sports programs especially in basketball & football graduating with honors in both. He went on to college in Dickinson, ND, graduating with honors in both sports.

After college graduation he worked for the U.S. Forest Service in western Montana watching for forest fires. After that year, he headed to a teaching job in Fort Yates, ND, with the United Tribes and the Federal government. While teaching at Ft. Yates, Harlen pursued his Masters in Education from NDSU. He married Diane J. Erickson of rural Sheyenne, ND, on April 1, 1961, who was an elementary teacher in Ft. Yates. They were blessed with 4 wonderful children; Scott, Ryon, Erik, and daughter Erin, while living in Fort Yates. These were busy and fun-filled years for the Wash family. The family moved to Gallup, New Mexico for a short while then back to Mandaree ND, where Harlen was the educational administrator and they welcomed daughters Fara and Shana into the family. 1970 took Harlen and family to a position with the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Nation as the educational administrator. They lived in Belcourt for 8 years before buying a farm in Rolla with room for horses, tractors, and many 4-H projects. In 1978 Harlen was transferred to Dallas, TX as the Southern Regional Director for the youth program in the Conservation Corps. The family was very busy with Harlen traveling for work and officiating high school football games. In 1982, Harlen transferred to Salt Lake City and worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for 5 years. He was then transferred to Puxico, MO. to finish out his career with the Federal Government.

Harlen retired from government work at an early age and started his own small construction/contracting business in Salt Lake City. He did a lot of volunteering for church and community events. He loved helping others with home projects and giving back to those that were in need. For several years he was active in helping and serving those in need until he decided it was time to spend time with family and friends. He and Diane bought a motor home and enjoyed traveling and visiting people and places they always wanted to see. After a few years of traveling around they returned home to Sandy, UT. Harlen suffered a widowmaker heart attack in 2019 and his health never really returned. He continued to help others and be involved in church activities until 2020 when COVID hit. Harlen enjoyed cards, dominos, and games with family and friends and he seemed to always end up winning, even if it took his analysis to do so. Harlen continued to fight and give it his all to overcome his health issues but in 2023 he entered hospice care and was confined to his home with help from aides and family to move around the house. In 2024, he became bed-bound but that did not stop him in the least. He maintained a very positive attitude, and a desire to get better. After fighting for almost 2 years of hospice services Harlen passed on December 5th at 5:30 a.m. peacefully in his sleep.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Diane, 6 kids; Scott, Ryon (Melissa), Erik (Lara), Erin, Fara, Shana (Mark) Medlock, 12 grandkids; Billie, Clay, Kaylee, Michael, Aspen, Sage, Gavin, Zachary, Tate, Zane, Piper, and Talor, and 4 great-grand-kids; Ronix, Roczen, Pearl, and Ruger. He joins his parents Pod and Florabel, brother, Glen, and sister Norella, mother and father-in-law Harold and Ethel Erickson, brother-in-law Chuck Erickson, along with many loving friends and extended family in Heaven.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 16, 2024 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 8575 South 700 East in Sandy, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to services beginning at 10 a.m. Interment services will be held at a later date in the Augustana Lutheran Cemetery near Sheyenne, ND.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in Bismark, ND next year with family and friends. Details will be posted as they are finalized.

Funeral services will be streamed via Zoom for those wishing to attend virtually.