Arlene Aune Harris

Our beautiful mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, Arlene Aune Harris, 94, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at the Village Senior Residence. She was born Dec. 1, 1919, in Red Lodge to Finnish immigrants Otto Puutio and Aino Hamalainen Puutio. She had one sister Tahka Elizabeth (Betty) Miller.

When she and her sister started school, they rode horseback to and from school, a one-room school for all grades. On the first day they attended, not one single student could speak English. They were all children of diverse backgrounds, including Italian, Scottish, German, Welsh, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and more. One can only imagine the chaos and the need for cooperation!

Mom married George Fenton Harris on Friday the 13th, March 1942, in Butte. He worked in the mines in Butte and they later left to follow war-related jobs. They went from Montana to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana, then returned to Montana because the humidity caused health problems for Mom. When they moved to Missoula in 1951, Mom attended the University of Montana. Then in 1956 she started work for the University of Montana School of Education from where she retired in December 1980. She was an administrative assistant to the dean and helped place student teachers in appropriate schools. Some students wanted to student teach where they themselves went to school; others wanted to teach in small towns or large towns. She enjoyed her job and loved working with the students. A commemorative brick in her honor has been placed at the Oval.

For several years, while she was working and after she retired, she was the secretary for the Historical Museum of Fort Missoula. She also took up oil painting which she enjoyed and many appreciated.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sister; grandson Todd O. Harris; sons-in-law, Steven Kotula and Shelby J. Poolson Sr.

Survivors include daughter Martha E. "Marty" Kay (Ronald); sons, Theodore O. Harris and William E. Harris (Michelle); daughter Rebecca L. Kotula BSN; granddaughters, Amy E. Cook, Angela M. Dearborn, Julie Harris BSN and Lucille E. Harris PhD; great-grandchildren, Alexander and Amanda Cook, Colton, Taran and Kiersten Dearborn and Suvi Carlson.

Mom has been cremated and her ashes will be scattered with those of our father, placed in 1985. She requested no services. Our thanks to the Partners in Home Care Hospice and Village Residence staff.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Humane Society or other animal welfare organization, veterans organizations, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula or the UM Foundation. Condolences for the family may be left at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.
Read Arlene Harris's Obituary and Guestbook.