Minnie Harms - December 23, 2012

MINNIE HARMS
1913-2012
Minnie Harms, age 99 of Auburn, passed away Sunday, December 23, 2012 at the Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn. The second youngest of eight children of Henry F. and Emma (Bohling) Rogge, she was born on the farm near Rohrs. She attended Rohrs School across the highway from her home. After eighth grade, she helped out there before entering Auburn High School. She graduated in 1931 with a teaching certificate.
She attended Peru State Teachers College for a year. She taught at Roosevelt School and Rohrs School. She retired from teaching when she married.
A lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Hickory Grove congregation, she married Walter G. Harms on June 26, 1941. While Walt was serving in the military, Minnie took his place as manager of the Swift and Co. cream station in Auburn.
Minnie ran the cream station while Walt recuperated at home for a year after his military discharge. After Walt returned to work, Minnie continued as bookkeeper for the cream station.
After Allan was born in 1945, Minnie became a full-time housewife, working at the cream station on Saturday nights. Their second son Roger was born in 1951.
Minnie and Walt encouraged learning and scholarship in their sons. Minnie also played the piano and Minnie and Walt encouraged both sons to take piano lessons and to participate in band. Walt died May 30, 1962.
While in her early 60s Minnie traveled with her sister Ida Rogge on bus trips, visited Allan and his family in Cedar Rapids, and Roger and his family in Rochester. She flew to California with Allan and his family in 1982 for a visit to Disneyland where she rode the same attractions as Doug and Kelly. Minnie got to visit Roger and Kris’ cabin near Hayward, Wis., during a snowy Christmas 1998.
Minnie lived alone at home after Roger and Allan left for college and continued to do so until February 2008, when she broke a hip. After surgery, she entered Good Samaritan Society-Auburn. She broke her other hip in 2009. Minnie lived there until entering the hospital.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law: Allan and Sally Harms of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Roger and Kris Harms of Rochester, Minn. Minnie’s grandchildren are Doug Harms and wife Claire of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; Kelly Wimmer and husband Josh of Madison, Wis.; Dan Harms of Burlington, Vt.; and Mike Harms and wife Kaitlin Herring of Iowa City, Iowa. She has one great-grandchild, Griffin Wimmer.
Funeral services were Thursday, December 27, at St. Paul (Hickory Grove) Lutheran Church near Auburn, officiated by the Rev. Paul Lillenas. Deanne Gerking was accompanist for a solo by Allyn Remmers and congregational songs.
Pallbearers were Mike Harms, Dan Harms, Gary Rogge, Eric Rogge, Dennis Bantz and Larry Holtzman. Burial was in St. Paul (Hickory Grove) Cemetery.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.