Remembering Leonard Harder
October 8, 1929 ~ December 23, 2013 Leonard Luellan Harder,Born in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, October 8, 1929 - Passed away Drumheller, Alberta, Deccember 23, 2013.
With piercing blue eyes, dark, wavy hair and a body hardened by years of physical labour, the young version of Len Harder resembled a character from one of the Western novels he liked to read. Handsome, confident and powerful, Len was a man's man, resourceful, street-wise and someone who would always have your back. As a town constable, and as a correctional officer, he treated people fairly and with respect, preferring reason to rowdiness. However, if it was a fight they wanted, he was more than happy to "take care of them." While working on the railway in B.C. in 1947, Len joined a boxing club. He won all of his matches and was offered a chance to move to the States to pursue a boxing career. He declined, wanting to stay in Canada, but he never lost his passion for boxing. Len was a miner in Flin Flon in 1948 when he met his future bride, Ethel June Olson. Married in 1950, they were together for 48 years, moving all over the prairies before settling in Drumheller in the early 70s. She lost her battle to cancer in 1998. Dry of wit and quick to laugh, Len was a man of few words but could be coaxed to tell a story or two, drawing on the colorful characters and experiences he encountered in his career. He enjoyed being part of the coffee crowd at McDonalds, as well as playing pool and cards with his friends at the Pioneer Trail Society. Above all, Len was a loving husband, a wonderful father and a loyal friend.
He is survived by his son Hal and his daughter-in-law Elisabeth, who live in the States. To Len's dear friend Betty Gallagher, as well as Paddy and Wilf Hunter, who welcomed Len as "chosen family," - thank you for always being there. There will be a memorial service in June. Donations may be made to the Heart To Heart Society in his memory.
