Harry Pharis, Jr.

Memorial services for Harry “Sonny” Pharis, Jr., 81, of Groton will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 23rd at the Groton United Methodist Church.  Rev. Brandon Dunham will officiate.  Inurnment will follow at a later date in Union Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held at the church on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Harry passed away Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital.

Henry Harrison Pharis, Jr. was born on June 16, 1938 in Aberdeen, SD to Henry and Evelyn (Bonde) Pharis.

Harry attended Putney Grade School and graduated from Groton High School in 1956.  On October 26, 1958, he was united in marriage to Gloria Bourassa, and together they were blessed with five children.  Harry farmed near Putney his entire life, eventually being joined by his son, Kevin.  

Harry was a member of the United Methodist Church in Groton.  He served on many boards including the Groton School, Putney Township and Putney Farmers Elevator, SD Farm Bureau, and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.  Harry’s hobbies included snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, watching football and cooking. He was an avid gardener who loved to share his produce with others. He enjoyed going to casinos and hosting poker night with his friends. Grandpa Harry took great pride in watching his grandchildren in all of their activities.  

Harry will be forever loved and greatly missed by his wife of 61 years, his children:  Kim (Craig) Weber, Karla Pasteur, Kelli (Lars) Hanson, Kami (Tom) Lipp, Kevin (Kara) Pharis, 17 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, a special nephew, Cory (Becky) Barber, several other nieces and nephews and his aunt, Nita Geranen.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Henry and Evelyn, and siblings Roland “Bud” Pharis, Mary Lou Swinter, Charlotte (Eugene) Barber, and Larry Pharis.  

Urnbearers will be his grandsons: Jeremy Weber, Eric Lipp, Cody Hanson, Dylan Hanson, Reilly Ell, Kyler Ell, Kale Pharis, Pierce Kettering and Henry Pharis, III.

Honorary Urnbearers will be Rich Bures, Glenn Cooper, Doug Craig, Richard Kolker, Jack Oliver, Jim Oliver, Dr. Tom Reynolds, Wayne Simon, Marc Sippel, Roger Solaas, Sherman Solaas, Rich Squire, and Jim Stephenson.

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