Carol Wanita Harder

Carol Wanita (Hase) Harder, 87, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025 in Rochester, Minnesota, seven days short of her 88th birthday. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am at Alliance Church in Mountain Lake, MN on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Visitation at Alliance Church from 4:30-6:30 pm on Friday, January 2, 2026 and one hour prior to the service. Arrangements made by Sturm Funeral Home.

“Christmas” Carol was born on December 25, 1937 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Edward and Burnis (Gorseth) Hase. Growing up in the city, Carol treasured her time with family in the Black Hills, and there were many trips to South Dakota throughout the years to Wall, Rapid City, and Hill City. Her upbringing and experiences in life shaped Carol into a strong, resilient, and loving person.

She went to high school at Minnehaha Academy near her childhood home in South Minneapolis. After graduating in 1955, Carol then attended California Lutheran Bible School in Los Angeles for two years. There she enjoyed the time using her gift of playing piano and strengthening her foundation of faith and love for Jesus.

Carol then returned to Minnesota and enrolled in Mankato State Teachers College. God would put her together with a roommate, Joyce Statlander who would bring Carol home to Mountain Lake for weekends where they would spend time with friends. Joyce married Wennis Franz, who was a good friend of Donald Harder. One night when Carol was visiting Joyce and Wennis, they set up a phone call with Don which was followed by a first date at the Minnesota Turkey Growers Convention banquet in January of 1960. Less than 12 months later, on December 17, 1960, this city girl and this farm boy tied the knot on a beautiful snowy evening in Minneapolis.

Carol and Don lived their entire married life on the Mountain Lake farm Don homesteaded in 1953, starting out in a little mobile home trailer, until they built a house. The farm was always home for their 37 wonderful years together until Don passed away February 5, 1997.

Carol was a leader in the Loyal Lakers 4-H club that all her children participated in. She was an active volunteer in the community, visiting nursing homes, leading Great Books groups at area elementary schools, and helping at a variety of church events. After Don died when she was just 59 years old, her church family became an even greater part of her life. 

Carol was a person who you would not easily forget; she was someone who loved with her whole heart and wanted others to feel loved too. She made it a point to seek out those who might have been overlooked or a misfit so that she could shower them with love and encouragement. It’s impossible to know how many thousands of notes and cards, phone calls and visits she took the time to write or make over the past 60 plus years. She was always ready and waiting with hugs and kisses – always with her signature lipstick on.

Carol was also an impeccable housekeeper, known for her love of cooking and cleaning. If you asked her what she loved to clean the most, she would reply with a smile: “Toilets! I love a clean toilet.” Her kitchen was always open, and she was known to say to family and strangers, “Help yourself to whatever you can find in the fridge.” 

Carol was gifted with an incredible musical talent – a gift she shared throughout her life. As a young girl, she wanted so badly to play piano, so she cut out black and white pieces of construction paper and taped those paper keys to the vanity dresser in her bedroom as a makeshift pretend keyboard. She could hear the music in her head as she played “her piano.”

Later she was invited to play on a neighbor’s piano until her mother was able to purchase one. Carol played piano up to the end of her life, the music flowing freely from her fingers, and God using the music to reach anyone who could hear. She used her gift to bring joy to residents at the Eventide Home, the Good Samaritan Village, and the Lodge, as well as many churches in the area. Some were even lucky enough to be invited into Carol’s home to get their own personal concert from Carol on her piano. Carol also played a part in introducing the piano to each of her six grandchildren on the grand piano Don surprised her with in the 1990s. 

Carol was proud of her Norwegian heritage, visiting the country twice and meeting many relatives there. You could often hear her saying Norwegian phrases she grew up with, such as “uff da,” “fysj da,” “Scandahoovian,” and “værsågod.” Her children, grandchildren, and even her great children inherited not only these phrases but also her problematic sinuses and her signature throat clearing sound.

Don and Carol brought four children into the world: Gregory, Philip, Dean, and Julie. Carol believed her kids could do anything, and she was a huge supporter of their 4-H and FFA activities, as well as their music, drama, and sports performances.

In 2000, Carol moved off the farm to her new home in Mountain Lake. This home became a magnet for her six grandchildren to spend time at many afternoons after school let out, before extracurricular activities, or until their parents could pick them up.

Carol’s greatest joy came from knowing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were happy and living life to the fullest. She was a great listener and encourager to those she met. You could often find her sitting in her living room, on her deck, or standing in the parking lot of the grocery store, having a heart-felt conversation.

In March 2025, Carol moved to The Lodge of Mountain Lake, until her move in November 2025 to Cottagewood Senior Communities in Rochester, Minnesota, where she would spend her last weeks, following her courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

On December 18, 2025, in the early morning, Carol died peacefully and ran into the arms of Jesus where she lives in the promise of eternal life.

She is survived by her four children, Gregory Harder of Darfur, MN; Philip Harder and wife Brenda of Mountain Lake, MN; Dean Harder and wife Jackie of Carmel, IN; Julie Harder of Lincoln, NE. Her six grandchildren: Gabriel (Jenna) Harder of Mankato, MN; Ellie Harder of Gothenberg, Sweden; Davis (Mikalah) Harder of Windom, MN; Andrew (Becca) Harder of Fishers, IN; Lucas (Paige) Harder of Muncie, IN; Paige (Kyle) Bussell of Fishers, IN. Her seven great-grandchildren: Sophia, Samantha, Isaiah, Hudson, Levi, Jace, and Caleb, all living in Indiana. Her brother John Hase; brother-in-law Ivan Harder; sister-in-law Betty Hase; sister-in-law Sharon Harder; sister-in-law Susie Hase; sister-in-law Susan Savard Hase; nieces, nephews, and countless friends. 

Carol was preceded in death by her husband Donald, mother Burnis Hase, father Edward Hase, brothers Norman Hase and Joel Hase, sister Jetta Feil and brother-in-law Larry Feil; in-laws Glen and Luetta Harder; in-laws Ben and Caroleen Adrian; and many dear friends.

***In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be made to Heshima, an organization that provides dignity for children with disabilities: Heshima.org