November 8, 1939 – January 21, 2020

Dennie Lee Harris was born Nov. 8, 1939 in Pueblo, Colorado to Earl and Vera Harris. He worked on the family farmstead until he married Barbara Dell from Rocky Ford, Colorado on Aug. 19, 1962. Dennie and Barb spent their first years together in Germany where Dennie served in the U.S. Army. Here they made deep connections to their German host family and welcomed their son Darin.

After serving in Germany, Dennie and family returned to Colorado where he worked for the county, farmed, and welcomed their daughter Brenda. Dennie and family moved to Washington in 1975 where Dennie worked with local farmers and then started his own custom combining business with Barbara and Darin. He and Barb also started and ran The Ice Cream Shoppe and Bakery with Brenda. Dennie and Barb purchased their own farm in 1995 where they continued working together.

Dennie spent endless hours meticulously caring for his fields. You could always find him and his four-legged friend Bingo around the farm adjusting an irrigation tube, straightening every corrugate or tapping on the inside of a combine. Dennie was kind to everyone and had the gift of being able to talk to anyone. He made friends wherever he wandered. Dennie lived life with a calm approach, kind heart, even temperament, strong will and daily joy.

Dennie died on Jan. 21, 2020, in Royal City, Washington. He is survived by his son Darin of Royal City, Washington; his daughter Brenda of Decorah, Iowa; granddaughters Kayla and Cambree of Moses Lake, Washington, and Kailee of Kings Bay, Georgia; grandson Dawson of Royal City, Washington; great-grandson Alexander and great-granddaughter Amara of Moses, Lake, Washington. Dennie is also survived by brothers Ray and Marvin Harris and sister Maxine Wetzel, all of Colorado.

Dennie was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life Barbara, his parents, brothers Jay and Bruce Harris, sister Phyllis Jewel, sister-in-law Debbie Hull and four- legged ones Puppy and Bingo.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Stevens Funeral Chapel in Othello, Washington. Memorial services for Dennie and Barbara will be held Feb. 1, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the Nazarene Church in Royal City, Washington. A reception will follow the service at the same location.