Nolan Winfield Harmon

Nolan Winfield Harmon, 78, Bismarck, died April 2, 2016, at his home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 5, at 11:00 AM MT at Bainville Faith Fellowship Church in Bainville, MT, his home church where he previously pastored. Burial will be at the Harmon Family Cemetery on a hill overlooking the Missouri River. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Nolan was born on July 28, 1937, the second son, to William and Gladys Harmon of rural Bainville, MT. His older brother, Lauren, passed away at age four so Nolan became the first boy in the family of six girls at this time, where he was doted on by his six older sisters and was known as “little King Dodo”! The family grew and later had another sister and two brothers. Growing up on the farm/ranch, Nolan loved working outside and one of his greatest dreams was to learn to fly his father’s airplane. That dream was accomplished and he loved to go for a “spin” before supper to check the cattle and sheep around the ranch as well as crop spraying for a number of years. In February of 1957, Nolan met the love of his life, Sharon Waller, at a basketball tournament in Sidney, MT, and the following February they were married in 1958, and have now celebrated 58 years of marriage. To this union five daughters were born. In 1967, things began to change for Nolan; he gave up the farm/ranch and answered the call to become a pastor. He attended college in Williston and Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA, and in 1971 accepted his first church in Torquay, Saskatchewan, Canada. After that, over the years, many moves were made for the Harmon family, as he pastored churches in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana and he became a well-loved pastor and family in the many congregations he served. It was with great dismay and trepidation when Nolan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2010 and decided to retire from fulltime ministry. The Harmons moved to Ellendale, ND, and then to Bismarck, ND, in April of 2012 so Nolan could be nearer more medical facilities. Nolan had been at home with Hospice care, after a cancer diagnosis, when he passed on to his Heavenly Home on April 2, 2016. He was able to share his love for the Lord with his girls and grandkids and still giving “his sermons” to them and praying for them to join him in his Heavenly Home! He also shared stories about his years on the farm and others. There has been much love, laughter, and tears over these few days with him. Nolan leaves his wife, Sharon of Bismarck, ND; his daughters, Robbin (Dan) Sweeney of Mandan, ND, Stacy (Scott) Merkel of Ellendale, ND, Holly (Randy) Seifert of Scranton, ND, Charla (Paul) Frazier of Onalaska, TX, and Kristi Harmon of Spring, TX; eleven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. His parents; two brothers; and two granddaughters preceded him in death.