Yvonne Lillian Harlow

Yvonne Lillian (DeForge) Harlow, 91, passed away in the early morning of Saturday, May 2, 2020 at Sunset Drive Nursing Home in Mandan, North Dakota while holding her son Joe's hand.

Yvonne was born May 15, 1928 to Albany B. and Gertrude (Brown) DeForge in Chaffee, North Dakota. Growing up Yvonne lived in several small towns around the state where her father worked as a teacher, principal, and superintendent and her mother taught music lessons. Yvonne graduated from Driscoll High School in 1945. She earned a bachelor's degree in business education at Valley City State College, graduating in 1949. She taught business courses, including bookkeeping, typing, and shorthand, in Grafton, North Dakota where she also enjoyed helping out in the concession stand at football games. One fall evening she sold popcorn to a handsome young man by the name of John Kenneth Harlow. They married on August 29, 1953 at St. Mary's in Bismarck. When Ken was offered a position at the Bismarck Tribune, they moved to Bismarck, settled in, and raised their family.

Although she never returned to teaching, Yvonne had a strong work ethic and interesting jobs throughout her lifetime. During summers in high school and college, she worked as a secretary at the Bismarck Tribune and one summer at a law firm in Washington, D.C. When she moved to Bismarck with Ken, she worked as a secretary for Sun Oil Company until they moved their operations to Texas. Yvonne's boss asked her to continue on with him in Texas but she and Ken chose to stay in Bismarck to be nearer their families. Yvonne was then a stay-at-home mom until neighborhood friend Dale Granrud was elected Burleigh County Sheriff in 1966. He persuaded her to be his secretary for his first term in office where she was sworn in as a deputy and wore a uniform and badge to work every day. Next, she was hired as the secretary for St. Anne Church and School. She loved her nearly 30 years working for Father Arnold Spain, Fr. Thomas Sullivan, Father Ed Wehner, and the people of St. Anne parish and they loved her right back. Father Spain and the church council eventually changed her title to Parish Administrator to more accurately described her role. She was often called by other Catholic church and school secretaries to help set up better systems for their work. When she retired in 1997, St. Anne parish hired two full-time and one part-time person to replace her.

Yvonne's faith was so very important to her. Throughout her life, she attended Mass every Sunday, even on vacations to her children's dismay. Yvonne and Ken were founding members of Corpus Christi parish, where she worked in a variety of volunteer capacities from painting the original gymnasium/sanctuary to being a member of the committees who planned and designed the church built in 1977, as well as the current soaring structure. She believed one of the blessings of retirement was the opportunity to attend Mass daily. Yvonne's faith lit the path in every part of her life, including being a gracious hostess. There was always an extra bed and room around the table for one more plate or one more hand of cards no matter what time of day or night you showed up. And although her family consisted of three children, many more looked to her for motherly advice and comfort, and she loved and teased them all as if they were her own.

Education was also greatly valued by Yvonne, particularly Catholic education. She and Ken made sure their children had access to an excellent Catholic education at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, St. Mary's Grade School, and St. Mary's Central High School. Because of this value, she spent many hours baking cookies for bake sales and helping with other fundraising events. She and Ken particularly enjoyed working with friends on the annual St. Mary's Central High School Carnival.

Besides work, volunteering, and being a mom, Yvonne loved traveling by car with Ken and their children throughout the country, picnicking and sightseeing along the way, visiting family and friends in many different states, as well as hanging out and fishing on Leech Lake, Minnesota with Dale Junker and his family. Back in Bismarck, they loved attending local sporting and arts events and could be found most Saturday evenings playing Pinochle with Assumption Drive friends, particularly Dale and Marie Granrud, Glen and Rena Anderson, and Carl and Verna Tjaden.

Yvonne will always be remembered for her welcoming smile, her sharp wit, and her generous heart.

"Well done, my good and faithful servant!
Great is your reward.
You have been faithful. Now your race is run.
Well done, my servant, well done!"

Yvonne was preceded in death by her husband Ken, her parents, and her siblings Verne, Llewellyn, and Iris. She is survived by her sister Joanne Ceccarelli of Bakersfield, California, her sister-in-law Frankie DeForge of Gering, Nebraska, her sons Jerry (Valorie) of Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Joe of Bismarck, daughter Janet (Harley) Krause of Lake Hallie, Wisconsin, granddaughters Mandi Christianson of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Evonna Krause (Eric Fulmer) of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, grandson Brian Krause of Neenah, Wisconsin, great grandsons Valentin, Jaxson, Peyton, Christian, and Noah of Grand Forks, and (arriving soon) Leo of Sheboygan, one great granddaughter Destiny of Grand Forks, as well as many cherished nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in Yvonne's honor to one of her favorite places:

Church of Corpus Christi
1919 North 2nd Street
Bismarck, ND 58501

Church of St. Anne
1321 Braman Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58501

St. Mary's Central High School
5802 Ridgeland Drive
Bismarck, ND 58503

Because of current social distancing, her family will have a small burial service this week with a larger memorial gathering to be planned for a later date. Arrangements are being handled by DaWise-Perry Funeral Services of Mandan.