Manuel Kim Harding

Manuel "Kim" Harding, of Kamiah

Brother Kim at 72 took off on his last journey from this earthly realm Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at his home in Kamiah. It will always be a comfort to us that he was visiting with big brother Jo and little sis Betsy at the time of his passing.

Kim came into the world Nov. 8, 1953. Joining two older brothers "Pete" Danial Arnold Harding and "Jo" Ronald Josef Harding, and little sis Betsy Raye Harding. Mom, Cornelia Milan (Sredanovich), and Danial Sylvester Harding had their hands full with this crew. His days were filled with the regular rhythms of life, including school, church, music, art, football, wrestling, boxing, swimming, camping, berry picking, fishing, shooting model rockets, shooting BB guns, raising pigeons, rock hounding, going to scouts and, of course, motorcycles. After school, a daily walk to the Wa-A'Yas Community Center to play basketball. He attended Joint School District No. 304 in Kamiah for 12 years. One of Kim's teachers later in life said he was the smartest of us children. We loved him anyway. Kim was married to Sheridan Anne Lillibridge, and later Donna Marie Kolar.

Kim and Sheridan's beloved son Jay was born in 1972. He was so tickled at the talented person Jay is. Kim would just beam when he got to spend time with his son.

Kim took to the motorcycle as a youngster. He just kept transferring to bigger and more powerful bikes. Till one day he owned a 47-74 hog. It was good for him as a traveling companion. He found the unencumbered free spirit he was seeking. Off he went. He lived in Lewiston and Clarkston for years. Then Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Florida, California and lots of stops in between. He called himself "jack of all trades, master of none." Be it a lumber mill, tugboat, barges, motorcycle shop, oil rig or putting in fiber optic lines across the mid-west. Kim always made his own way, his way. He was a union man if the trade had one. He wore many hats. Working with motors was his talent. Electricity? No problem. Welding? Got that. Painting? Yup. Building? Heck yeah. Ever learning and teaching. Kim had a great sense of humor and a heart of gold.

Kim came back home to Kamiah to live out his days. He loved his relatives and enjoyed visiting with friends. When the stroke cut him in two, it was Jody Todd that loved him and stuck by him in the hospitals and St Luke's Rehabilitation Institute of Spokane WA. This took him off the motorcycle; his tinkering with mechanical-electrical things never stopped. He may have only had one hand, but a vise provided number two. Kim was a social butterfly, and these last few years had been hard on his social calendar. Good, bad, or indifferent, we only got one Kimmer, at last he has found peace.

Preceding him in death were both parents Danial S. Harding, Cornelia M. (Sredanovich) Harding, eldest brother "Pete" Danial Arnold Harding, and a great niece. Survivors include his beloved son: Jay Lillibridge, of Lewiston; sister-in-law Carol Harding, of Clarkston; brother/sister-in-law Jo (Tammy) Harding, of Kamiah; sister/brother-in-law Betsy (Cliff) Walker, of Kamiah; nieces: Allison (Justin) Hunt, of Lewiston, Tineall Harding, of Lewiston and Avery (Steve Mahaffey) Walker, of Post Falls; nephews: Dean (Corrina) Harding, of Clarkston, David Harding, of Gillette Wyo., Alex (Kristy Parks) Harding, of Lewiston, Jared (Shandra) Harding, of Lewiston, Lee (Whitney) Harding, of Lewiston, Tucker (Tressa) Harding, of Nampa and Kevin (Stacey) Walker, of Lewiston; grandchildren: Nathan (Taylor) Steele, of Kuna, Idaho; Meghan Richmond, of Lewiston; four great-grandchildren and bonus Todd (Royann) Scott, of Lewiston.

There will be a private family service at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan 23, at the Community Presbyterian Church, 620 Seventh St., Kamiah. There will be a public graveside gathering at 11 a.m., Friday, May 22, at the Kamiah Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to Community Food Pantry, P.O. Box 5, Kamiah, ID 83536. Kim was a blood donor. Please sign up and give blood in memory of Kim.