Cleo Albert Harding - 1931 - 2019

Cleo Albert Harding was born June 4, 1931, in New Rockford, North Dakota, the youngest of 12 children born to Thomas and Regina (Ehlers) Harding. Cleo passed away January 23, 2019, in McMinnville, Oregon.
The family farmed in the New Rockford area and Cleo attended one-room country schools. In 1943 the family moved to the St. Johns area of Portland. Cleo got his first job on a paper route, and then in 1947 worked as a butcher’s apprentice at Fred Meyer. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1950, the first in his family to do so.
In Portland, he discovered sports, especially baseball, and was also a Boy Scout. Cleo joined the Navy in 1951 and spent his tour of duty in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Upon leaving the Navy in 1954, he worked as a sheetrocker for his brother-in-law at JB Beck Construction. During this time, Cleo attended Portland State University.
In 1956, he married the love of his life, Patricia Russell. They met in 1944 when Regina was a babysitter for Pat. In 1957, Cleo and Pat welcomed their first daughter, Lori, and in 1960, another daughter, Jodi.
Cleo and Pat moved to her grandparents’ farm just south of McMinnville in 1959. Cleo spent the next 40 years farming alfalfa, wheat, clover, walnuts and grass seed. Also during those years Cleo raised beef and dairy cows, hogs and sheep. He was forever grateful for the opportunity to farm. Cleo was also an avid card player since childhood and many games were enjoyed over the years with family and friends.
Upon retiring, Cleo and Pat enjoyed many trips with their friends and family to Alaska, North Dakota and the Midwest, Hawaii, Canada, and several cruises, including Europe and the Caribbean.
Over the years Cleo became an asset to his community, serving with the Bellevue Community Hall, Yamhill County Livestock Association, Amity Co-op Board, FHA Advisory Board, Yamhill County Fair Board, Sheridan Land Planning Commission, and West Valley Farmers Co-op. He also spent many years in service with McMinnville BPOE Elks, beginning as chaplain and ending as Exalted Ruler in 1983. He was also a volunteer at Willamette Valley Medical Center, a job he truly loved.
Cleo was grateful for every opportunity, for his wide circle of friends and, especially, his loving family.
Cleo is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughters, Lori Strahm (Ernie) of Carlton, and Jodi Boundy (Mike); grandchildren, Jenna Vernon (Jeremy) and Jon Boundy (Courtney), all of McMinnville.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2019, at the Chapel of Macy & Son, McMinnville, Oregon.
Contributions may be made in honor of Cleo to the Yamhill County Historical Society or Yamhill County 4-H.
To leave condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.