Jacob Harder

Jacob S. Harder was born to Peter P. and Margaretha (Sawatzky) Harder on April 19, 1910 near Mountain Lake, MN. He grew up in Mountain Lake and North Dakota, where he received his education in country schools. Jacob was baptized upon confession of his faith and was a long time member of the First Mennonite Church of Butterfield, MN. On October 9, 1935 Jacob was united in marriage to Elizabeth G. Quiring at the Bergfelder Church in Mountain Lake. They made their home and farmed in the Butterfield area until retiring and moving in to Butterfield in 1975. Jacob was a member of the Butterfield Thresherman's Association, and he helped build the grist mill and ground wheat in the mill for many years. He served on the School Boards of both District #30 country school and Butterfield Public School. He was an active member of First Mennonite Church and filled most leadership areas within the church, taught Sunday School and sang in many choirs and groups, as well as being a leader in helping members of the community when needs arose. Jacob died on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elizabeth G. Harder on November 19, 1992; two grandchildren, Jennifer Ruth Harder and Brenden Kuhns; a son-in-law, Gary Stoesz; and six brothers, John, Peter, Abraham, Cornelius, Frank and Benjamin. Jacob is survived by eight children, Milton (Janice) Harder of Watertown, MN, Harvey (Elfrieda) Harder of Rhinelander, WI, Margaret Stoesz of Coon Rapids, MN, Dennis (Elvina) Harder of Hastings, MN, Rosalie (Dennis) Huxman of Moundridge, KS, Dianne (Leon) Kliewer of Omaha, NE, Kenneth (Diane) Harder of Butterfield, and Charlene (Kenneth) Kuhns of Little Sioux, IA; 28 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; one great great grandson; a sister, Aganetha Harder of Mountain Lake; a sister-in-law, Vernelle Harder of El Paso, TX; many other relatives and friends.