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Harley McFerran Aug 28 2007
Funeral services for Harley J. McFerran, age 77, of Watertown, SD formerly of Willow Lake, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 1, 2007 in the Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown, SD. Rev. Stephen Lauricella will officiate. Harley passed away on August 28, 2007 in a hospital in Watertown, SD. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. Pallbearers will be Harley’s grandsons. Cross Bearers will be Harley’s granddaughters. Music will be provided by Marcia Jelsma, organist, and vocalists Judy Everson and Harley’s nephews, Paul Bevers and Curtis Bevers. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday preceding the services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Harley John McFerran was born August 25, 1930 to Thomas John and Ella Christine (Nelson) McFerran of rural Henry, South Dakota. He had 5 older sisters. He attended rural elementary school. The family moved to Watertown in 1944 and Harley participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track while attending Watertown High School. He graduated in 1948. After graduation, he farmed on the original McFerran homestead near Hazel, where he lived until 1972. Harley was united in marriage to Reneta Strohfus on August 27, 1950 at Grace Lutheran Church. They were blessed with seven daughters, all of whom Harley lovingly called “Sis”. Harley attended Auctioneer School in Mason City, Iowa in March 1959. His auctioneering career spanned 42 years and involved selling livestock, farmsteads, and household goods. In 1989 he obtained his real estate license. In 1967 he purchased the Willow Lake Livestock Auction, and operated the business until he was forced into retirement in 2001 due to health reasons. The family moved to DeSmet in 1972, where Harley owned and operated the DeSmet Livestock Auction. In 1981 they moved to Willow Lake, where they lived until moving to Watertown in 2001. Harley was confirmed in 1944 at Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown. He had a deep and abiding faith. He served on church boards throughout the years at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of rural Henry, American Lutheran Church in DeSmet, and Grace Lutheran Church in Willow Lake. Harley was active within the communities he lived. He served on the Hazel and Willow Lake School Boards for many years and was a member of the Willow Lake Community Club and the Willow Lake Lions Club. He was a member of the South Dakota Auctioneers Association and the Auction Market Association, holding numerous officer positions. Harley was an honorable man, who influenced many by his words and deeds. Blessed to have shared in his life are his wife of 57 years, Reneta and daughters; Nancy and Darwin Brinkman of Watertown, their sons Jason (wife Jill and son Chase), Nathan (wife Colleen) and Dustin; Mary and Dr. Kevin Bjordahl of Milbank, their sons Paul (wife Joy and children Caden and Anika), Ryan (fiancé Kari Knepshield), and Travis; Jean and Todd Wilkinson of DeSmet, their children Nicholas, Nicole (fiancé Marshall Meier), and Michelle; Kay and Dale Patrick of Brookings, their son Jeremy (Kelli Frankenstein); Jill and Mark Hoek of DeSmet, their son Thomas (fiancé Shauna Heitland); Janet and Chip Bortnem of Volga, their children Tanner and Kelsey; Wendy and Joel Brekke of Fargo, ND, their sons Hunter and Mason; sisters Dora and William (Bud) DeBerg, Harriet and James Bevers; brother-in-law Lee and Jeann Bevers all of Watertown, SD; many nieces and nephews; and special family friend Stephanie Dahle. Preceding Harley in death were his parents; three sisters Ruth (Thomas) Bevers, Esther Nye, Vera Bevers; and three grandchildren, Ashley, Brady and Adam Patrick.

Harley McFerran
Aug 28 2007

Funeral services for Harley J. McFerran, age 77, of Watertown, SD formerly of Willow Lake, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 1, 2007 in the Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown, SD. Rev. Stephen Lauricella will officiate. Harley passed away on August 28, 2007 in a hospital in Watertown, SD.

Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. Pallbearers will be Harley’s grandsons. Cross Bearers will be Harley’s granddaughters. Music will be provided by Marcia Jelsma, organist, and vocalists Judy Everson and Harley’s nephews, Paul Bevers and Curtis Bevers.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday preceding the services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Harley John McFerran was born August 25, 1930 to Thomas John and Ella Christine (Nelson) McFerran of rural Henry, South Dakota. He had 5 older sisters. He attended rural elementary school. The family moved to Watertown in 1944 and Harley participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track while attending Watertown High School. He graduated in 1948. After graduation, he farmed on the original McFerran homestead near Hazel, where he lived until 1972.

Harley was united in marriage to Reneta Strohfus on August 27, 1950 at Grace Lutheran Church. They were blessed with seven daughters, all of whom Harley lovingly called “Sis”.

Harley attended Auctioneer School in Mason City, Iowa in March 1959. His auctioneering career spanned 42 years and involved selling livestock, farmsteads, and household goods. In 1989 he obtained his real estate license. In 1967 he purchased the Willow Lake Livestock Auction, and operated the business until he was forced into retirement in 2001 due to health reasons. The family moved to DeSmet in 1972, where Harley owned and operated the DeSmet Livestock Auction. In 1981 they moved to Willow Lake, where they lived until moving to Watertown in 2001.

Harley was confirmed in 1944 at Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown. He had a deep and abiding faith. He served on church boards throughout the years at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of rural Henry, American Lutheran Church in DeSmet, and Grace Lutheran Church in Willow Lake.

Harley was active within the communities he lived. He served on the Hazel and Willow Lake School Boards for many years and was a member of the Willow Lake Community Club and the Willow Lake Lions Club. He was a member of the South Dakota Auctioneers Association and the Auction Market Association, holding numerous officer positions.

Harley was an honorable man, who influenced many by his words and deeds. Blessed to have shared in his life are his wife of 57 years, Reneta and daughters; Nancy and Darwin Brinkman of Watertown, their sons Jason (wife Jill and son Chase), Nathan (wife Colleen) and Dustin; Mary and Dr. Kevin Bjordahl of Milbank, their sons Paul (wife Joy and children Caden and Anika), Ryan (fiancé Kari Knepshield), and Travis; Jean and Todd Wilkinson of DeSmet, their children Nicholas, Nicole (fiancé Marshall Meier), and Michelle; Kay and Dale Patrick of Brookings, their son Jeremy (Kelli Frankenstein); Jill and Mark Hoek of DeSmet, their son Thomas (fiancé Shauna Heitland); Janet and Chip Bortnem of Volga, their children Tanner and Kelsey; Wendy and Joel Brekke of Fargo, ND, their sons Hunter and Mason; sisters Dora and William (Bud) DeBerg, Harriet and James Bevers; brother-in-law Lee and Jeann Bevers all of Watertown, SD; many nieces and nephews; and special family friend Stephanie Dahle.

Preceding Harley in death were his parents; three sisters Ruth (Thomas) Bevers, Esther Nye, Vera Bevers; and three grandchildren, Ashley, Brady and Adam Patrick.

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