Obituary of Linda Ann Harris

Sioux Falls – Linda Ann Harris, 70, peacefully entered her heavenly home on 1/1/25 at Avera Mckennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD surrounded by family. Funeral service will be Friday, January 10 at 10:30 am at Parkston Congregational Church in Parkston.  Visitation will be Thursday, January 9 from 5 to 7 pm, with a 7:00 pm prayer service, at Parkston Congregational Church in Parkston.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston.

Linda was born February 10, 1954, to Elmer and Ruth (Mogck) Johnson in Parkston, SD. Due to her father serving in the Air Force, Linda and her mother initially lived in Parkston with her maternal grandparents. Her father first got to see her when she was nearly one year of age when they were rejoined as a family. She grew up in Osceola, NE where she graduated as valedictorian from Osceola High School in 1972. She was active in band, volleyball, and track. She was also the bookkeeper for the baseball team on which her dad played/coached, and her brother played. Here is where her love of baseball started.

Linda graduated summa cum laude from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE with a degree in Accounting. She completed her four-year degree in only three years. While at Wayne State, she was hall mother in Terrace Hall for two years. Her maternal grandfather had once told her “It would not be a bad idea to marry a farmer”, despite being a “town girl” her whole life.

While at Wayne State, Linda did find her farmer and was united in marriage to Herbert Harris on May 3, 1975. To this union, 3 children, Jennifer, Patrick, and Jeff, were born. Linda and Herb did live briefly in Indiana. The couple eventually made their home on the homestead, near Parkston, of that same maternal grandfather who told her to find that farmer. The town girl quickly became the farm wife.

Linda helped on the farm and worked for Parkston Elementary School as an aide until retiring in 2018. She was also bookkeeper for Montmorenci Elevator in Indiana for several years. She was a member of Parkston Congregational Church where she taught Sunday School for 25 years, helped with the Thanksgiving Turkey Supper, was a church deacon, and church council secretary. She loved to play softball and was twice a state softball champion and twice an all-tournament first baseman.

Although she spent a great deal of time watching and cheering for wrestling teams, her favorite activities were going to her grandchildren’s activities and going to Mudcat Baseball games.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Herb of Parkston; 3 children: Jennifer (Jason) Bietz of Scotland, SD; Patrick Harris of Mitchell, SD; and Jeff (Samantha) Harris of Parkston, SD; 8 grandchildren: Kennedy, Tyrus, and Trinity Bietz; Lilly, Paxton, and Ryder Harris; and Oliver and Gunner Harris along with another little Harris due in March 2025; a brother, Steve (Shari) Johnson of Elkhorn, NE; Sisters-in-law Darleen (Gary) Nelson of Lafayette, IN, and Linda (Mike) Sims of Palm Coast, FL; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Ruth Johnson and in-laws, Homer and Colleen Harris.