Lloyd Harden

Longtime Sherman County, Kansas resident Lloyd Russell Harden, 85, died Monday, December 10, 2012, at Trego Manor in WaKeeney, Kansas.

He was born March 18, 1927, at Ashland, Kansas, the son of Florence E. (Bard) and Paul R. Harden.  He grew up on the family farm in Lexington Township of Clark County, Kansas.  He had one sister, Frances, and five brothers, Duane, Willis, Robert, Ray, and Daniel.  He attended a country school in Lexington Township and graduated from Protection High School in Protection, Kansas.

He and Mattie Marie Brite were married in July of 1945.  He served his country in the United States Army as a heavy equipment operator with the 3333rd Truck Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia, as well as training Officer Candidates.  After returning home from his service, he started farming.  He and Mattie were blessed with a son Monte and a daughter Marilyn.  In 1950, the family moved to Goodland.  In 1966, Mattie passed away.

Lloyd later married Elizabeth T. “Betty” Wolfram.  They started raising Limousine cattle and developed the only herd between Hays and Fort Collins.  They enjoyed traveling and toured forty states and nearly a dozen countries.  Their favorite pastime was attending polka festivals, which fostered friendships from Nevada to Michigan.

His memberships included Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, in which he was a Fourth Degree Knight.

In addition to his first wife Mattie, preceding him in death were his second wife Betty Harden, sister Frances Eubank, and brothers Duane and Ray.

Surviving family includes his son Monte Harden of Fremont, Ohio; daughter Marilyn Harden of Hays; three grandchildren; four step-children; six step-grandchildren; and three brothers Willis, Robert, and Daniel.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, December 14, at 10:00 AM MT, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland, with Father Norbert Dlabal presiding.  Burial, with military honors, will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.

Friends may share their respects at Koons Chapel on Thursday, from 4:00 until 6:00 PM MT, with vigil following at 6:00 PM MT.

Memorials may be designated to Trego Manor, and may be left at or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS   67735-1555.