Harry C. Wood

On Thursday, December 22, 2022, Harry Conner Wood stepped into heaven with his famous smile.  He was 92.  He was born in Royalton, Minnesota to Daniel and Mildred Wood.  Harry finished the 8th grade, then started working on the family farm.  He was and always will be a Marine.  He loved his country and served from 1952 to 1954.  After serving, he moved back to Minnesota where he was a machinery operator in the iron mines.  While working around Ely, he met and married his sweetheart Clarice J. Pennala, and they have been married 68 years.  They have seven children - four while living in Minnesota and the other three after they moved to Montana.  In 1972, he accepted Christ as his Savior and his faith was a big part of his life.  He was very instrumental in the founding and ministry of Swan Valley Baptist Church.  He loved hunting, watching his kids and grandkids at sporting events, and talking about cars, especially Fords.  He was an artist with a road grader.  From mountainous logging roads to county roads, you could always tell if Harry was the operator because he did such an outstanding job.  He was rarely idle.  After working all day, you could find him with his children out in the woods either cutting firewood and fence posts, plowing snow or shoveling snow off of roofs.  He loved his family and worked tirelessly to make ends meet.  He was a servant.  Many times he would give someone a load of firewood or plow their driveway because times were tough and serving others was important to him.  He was a teacher.  He taught by example what was important to him in life:  God, family, church, work, being kind, contentment, and perseverance. 

Harry was proceeded in death by his parents, three sisters and six brothers.  He is survived by his brother John, his wife Clarice, his seven children and their spouses:  Kevin (Chris), Charles (Ellie), Gerry, Tim (Lili), Dawn (Dave) Munter, Kenny (Chris), Bill (Jenny), 22 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren.  A celebration of life will be held this summer (2023).  He is loved by many and will be greatly missed.