Milton Harms

Milton Hilmer Harms

MORA — Milton Hilmer Harms, 78, of Mora, died Friday, January 19, 2018, near Mora. He was born on December 5, 1939, on a farm north of Cole Camp in the Lake Creek area, a son of Martin and Erna (Holsten) Harms.

He attended Lake Creek School and graduated from Cole Camp High School in 1958. On September 18, 1959, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cole Camp, he was united in marriage to Sharon Meyer. This union was blessed with the gift of three children: Greg, Scott and Teresa.

He was a life-long member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, near Cole Camp, where he was baptized and confirmed and had served as an usher. From 1967 to 1970, he worked for Jake and Shorty at Bormann's Conoco Gas Station on Highway 65. From 1958 to 1970, he also worked for Alvin Kronke at Mora Lumber Yard, which he then purchased with his brother Eldon in 1970. In 1980, his brother bought his half of the lumber yard and he purchased the Blue Bird Inn, which is now the food pantry. In 1983, he then joined Carpenter's Union Local 945, working on several area schools and Bothwell Hospital until retiring in 2003. After his retirement, he did some carpentry and worked on the farm. Milton enjoyed working on his 1971 GMC truck, bowling, hunting and fishing, and trips to Cisco, Texas, to visit his nephew Dennis.

He is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Sharon Harms of the home; a daughter, Teresa Kestner and her husband Mark of Cole Camp; two sons, Greg Harms and his wife Stephanie of Gladstone and Scott Harms and his wife Leticia of Mora; three sisters, Florine Goosen of Smithton, Alice Lee and her husband Glen of Sedalia, and Deana Balke of Cole Camp; three brothers, Harold Harms and his wife Lavera of Cole Camp, Eldon Harms and his wife Elsie of Cole Camp, and Larry Harms and Dorothy Herndon of Mora; eight grandchildren, Garrison Harms, Carter Harms, Andrew Harms, Aaron Harms and his wife Geni, Derrick Kestner, Kristy Kestner, Kaylee Kestner and her fiancé Brandon Rotert, and Destiny Kestner; and four great-grandchildren, Chase Kestner, Kynlee Thoennes, Brycen Harms, and Renley Harms.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Erna Harms, three sisters, Elvera Harms, Delphine Harms, and Ruth Ann Harms, two brothers, Marvin Harms and Ervin Harms, a sister-in-law, Genevieve Harms, and two brothers-in-law, Orville Goosen and Harry Gene Balke.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, near Cole Camp, with Pastor Tyler Poppen officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, near Cole Camp.

A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at the Fox Funeral Home in Cole Camp, with visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Holy Cross Cemetery, Lutheran School Association, or Benton County Cancer Fund in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Tim Thoennes, and Brandon Rotert.