Obituary of Nina Irene Harder

NINA DAGEFOERDE HARDER Nina Irene Harder was born on May 10, 1938, at her family’s home in Nez Perce County, Idaho, the second of four children. Her parents, Paul and Gertrude Dagefoerde, operated a wheat farm, where she learned how to work hard and enjoy the people around her. She was blessed to have two sets of loving grandparents nearby, all of them immigrants from Germany. She was raised in the faith, being baptized and confirmed at Cameron Lutheran Church. As a youngster, she attended Leland Elementary. In high school, she was active in basketball and student government. She graduated from Kendrick High School in 1956. In 1957, she graduated from Northwest Air College as a reservationist. Shortly thereafter, Nina went to work at Inland Empire Agency, Co., an insurance agency where she was introduced to her future husband, Carl H. Harder of Lamont. She married Carl on June 1, 1959, and moved to the ranch. They honeymooned on a cross country trip of the United States. The following March, Carl, Jr. was born. Three additional children, Heidi, Adele, and Henry, followed quickly. Nina was an excellent helpmate to Carl, both in the home and on the ranch. She enjoyed the seasons and rhythms of ranch life. She was a particularly devoted mother, a dependable presence at her children’s events. She was a Girl Scout leader for six years and was named Ritzville Mother of the Year in 1973. She served for many years as the secretary for Adams County Fire Protection District No. 4. With children “married off,” Nina reveled in her grandchildren. She had a generous heart and gave selflessly of her time. When Carl retired in 2001, grandparenthood became their passion. They traveled all over the state to take in their grandkids’ activities. Nina continued to support Carl in his farming until his second retirement in 2014. In the last year and a half, Nina fought a valiant battle with lung cancer. Though she ultimately lost this battle on December 29, 2016, this time frame also brought her great joy and hope. Three grandchildren were married and she was able to attend the last one in September. She had tremendous satisfaction, knowing the next generation was laying a sound foundation for the family’s future. Nina will be remembered for her no-nonsense approach to parenting and her generous spirit. Nina is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of fifty-seven years, Carl Harder, her children, Carl, Jr. of Alisa Viejo, California (wife, Maricela; children, Brandon (Rachel), Courtney (Andrew), Freddie, Javier and Julie), Heidi Sturdivant of Puyallup (husband, Reuben; son, Adam (Margaret)), Adele Brown of Lamont (husband, Charles; sons, Rowdy and Beau) and Henry of Lamont (wife, Linda; sons, Jody and Harry). She is survived by sisters, Norma Downey (Terry) of Lewiston and Ann Wilson (Glen) of Spokane Valley, and brother, Paul Dagefoerde, Jr. of Kendrick, Idaho, as well as sister-in-law, Christine Tangvald (Roald) of Spokane and brother-in-law, Herman Harder of Lamont. Her funeral will be held at eleven o’clock on January 14, 2017, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 206 South Division, Ritzville. Interment will follow at the Harder Family Cemetery, Flying Circle Ranch, Macall, Washington. Danekas Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences can be left at www.danekasfh.com Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to Emanuel Lutheran Church.