The Passing of a Legend
MAGNUSON, Harry Frank (Age 85) Passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2009, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.
He was born on March 14, 1923, at Providence Hospital, Wallace, Idaho, to Mary (Sala) Magnuson, a second generation Italian American, and Harry John Magnuson, a second generation Swedish American, in Wallace, Idaho. Harry was the eldest of three sons.
Harry was a lifelong resident of Wallace, spending summers at the farm of his grandparents, Louis and Margherita Sala, in Harrison, Idaho. He graduated from Wallace High School in 1940 and went to work for Hecla Mining Company as a telephone operator. In 1941, he enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow where he became a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
When World War II broke out, he transferred to the University of Idaho Southern Branch at Pocatello, where he became a member of the United States Navy in its V 12 program. Through the program, he attended Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Upon completion of the program, he was commissioned as a lieutenant of the United States Navy and served as a supply officer in the Pacific through the end of World War II. After the war, he returned to Harvard Business School and obtained a Masters in Business Administration.
In 1947, Harry returned to Wallace and again went to work for Hecla Mining Company. Shortly thereafter, on December 29, 1947, he met Colleen Burns, the love of his life. They were married in St. Alphonsus Church in Wallace on July 22, 1950, and were married for almost 59 years. After a year at Hecla, Harry founded his own accounting firm, H. F. Magnuson & Co., which he continued to operate for 60 years.
Harry learned the value of hard work and a good education from his parents. He was profoundly committed to community service. He practiced those virtues his entire life, which improved the well-being of countless others.
Harry and Colleen raised five children in Wallace. In 1963 they acquired Glen Eyrie on Casco Bay, Lake Coeur d'Alene where the family moved for summers thereafter. He loved to spend time there among his beautiful flowers and old growth Idaho timber. In 1982, Harry and Colleen built a winter residence at Mauna Kea, Kamuela, Hawaii. Harry enjoyed spending as much time there in the winters as possible and commuted between Wallace and Hawaii for many years.
Harry loved all things Idaho and served on a number of community, state and national boards. He was very generous with his time and his opinions were well-respected. He grew up in a small town with small town values which instilled in him an unending drive to succeed and give back to his community. He was such a humble and gracious man that no one who met him would likely recognize the breadth of his successes and the number of awards he received over the years. The awards, though many, were not his motivation.
Harry was one of the first three lay trustees appointed to the governing body at Gonzaga University in 1969. He served as a trustee for 41 years and served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1970 to 1975. In May of 2008 he was given the Desmet Medal by Gonzaga University. In 1984 he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Gonzaga University. In May of 1989 he received an Honorary Doctor of Administrative Science Degree from the University of Idaho at its centennial commencement. From 1987 through 1991, he served as the Chairman of the Idaho Centennial Committee, which celebrated Idaho's first 100 years. In January 1991, the Idaho Statesman designated him as Citizen of the Year for 1990 and praised the accomplishments of the Idaho Centennial Commission. In May 1991, he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Idaho State University. He was one of the Idaho State University's first honorary degree recipients. In August 1996, he was inducted into Idaho's Hall of Fame in recognition of a career in business as well as service to his community and the State. In October 1999, he received the "Esto Perpetua" Award from the Idaho State Historical Society in honor of his significant contributions to the preservation of Idaho history. Many of the historic sites of North Idaho are preserved as a result of Harry's work. The Cataldo Mission was especially close to Harry's heart. He worked for years to bring about the completion of Sacred Encounters, a permanent exhibition of Indian artifacts. Harry was highly honored by the Coeur d'Alene Indians and received the Cataldo Medal in 2003.
Harry will always be remembered for his selfless generosity and absolute love for his family. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, Wallace, three sons, Harry James and his wife Nita, Coeur d'Alene, Thomas Robert and his wife Melissa, Spokane, John Magnuson and his fiancé Holly Houston of Coeur d'Alene, two daughters, Kathleen Magnuson Sheppard and husband Burton of Spokane, and Mary Elizabeth Magnuson of Seattle, grandchildren Jimmy and Clancy Magnuson, David, Daniel and Flora Sheppard, Wei Wei Magnuson, Tyanne Ward, Frankie and Emily Magnuson, and Jessie Graves, two younger brothers and their wives, Richard and Elsie Magnuson of Wallace and Bob and Elinor Magnuson of Spokane, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Vigil Service will be held at St. Alphonsus Church in Wallace at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 29, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church in Spokane, Washington. The family deeply appreciates the outpouring of love and support from people throughout the Northwest. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Harry and Colleen Magnuson Scholarship at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, 502 E. Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99258, or to the Wallace Civic Auditorium Association, P. O. Box 469, Wallace, Idaho 83873.
In honor of Harry, give someone less fortunate a hand up.
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." W. W. Campbell
Please read Harry's memorial and sign his online guestbook at hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.
Harry was a lifelong resident of Wallace, spending summers at the farm of his grandparents, Louis and Margherita Sala, in Harrison, Idaho. He graduated from Wallace High School in 1940 and went to work for Hecla Mining Company as a telephone operator. In 1941, he enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow where he became a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
When World War II broke out, he transferred to the University of Idaho Southern Branch at Pocatello, where he became a member of the United States Navy in its V 12 program. Through the program, he attended Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Upon completion of the program, he was commissioned as a lieutenant of the United States Navy and served as a supply officer in the Pacific through the end of World War II. After the war, he returned to Harvard Business School and obtained a Masters in Business Administration.
In 1947, Harry returned to Wallace and again went to work for Hecla Mining Company. Shortly thereafter, on December 29, 1947, he met Colleen Burns, the love of his life. They were married in St. Alphonsus Church in Wallace on July 22, 1950, and were married for almost 59 years. After a year at Hecla, Harry founded his own accounting firm, H. F. Magnuson & Co., which he continued to operate for 60 years.
Harry learned the value of hard work and a good education from his parents. He was profoundly committed to community service. He practiced those virtues his entire life, which improved the well-being of countless others.
Harry and Colleen raised five children in Wallace. In 1963 they acquired Glen Eyrie on Casco Bay, Lake Coeur d'Alene where the family moved for summers thereafter. He loved to spend time there among his beautiful flowers and old growth Idaho timber. In 1982, Harry and Colleen built a winter residence at Mauna Kea, Kamuela, Hawaii. Harry enjoyed spending as much time there in the winters as possible and commuted between Wallace and Hawaii for many years.
Harry loved all things Idaho and served on a number of community, state and national boards. He was very generous with his time and his opinions were well-respected. He grew up in a small town with small town values which instilled in him an unending drive to succeed and give back to his community. He was such a humble and gracious man that no one who met him would likely recognize the breadth of his successes and the number of awards he received over the years. The awards, though many, were not his motivation.
Harry was one of the first three lay trustees appointed to the governing body at Gonzaga University in 1969. He served as a trustee for 41 years and served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1970 to 1975. In May of 2008 he was given the Desmet Medal by Gonzaga University. In 1984 he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Gonzaga University. In May of 1989 he received an Honorary Doctor of Administrative Science Degree from the University of Idaho at its centennial commencement. From 1987 through 1991, he served as the Chairman of the Idaho Centennial Committee, which celebrated Idaho's first 100 years. In January 1991, the Idaho Statesman designated him as Citizen of the Year for 1990 and praised the accomplishments of the Idaho Centennial Commission. In May 1991, he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Idaho State University. He was one of the Idaho State University's first honorary degree recipients. In August 1996, he was inducted into Idaho's Hall of Fame in recognition of a career in business as well as service to his community and the State. In October 1999, he received the "Esto Perpetua" Award from the Idaho State Historical Society in honor of his significant contributions to the preservation of Idaho history. Many of the historic sites of North Idaho are preserved as a result of Harry's work. The Cataldo Mission was especially close to Harry's heart. He worked for years to bring about the completion of Sacred Encounters, a permanent exhibition of Indian artifacts. Harry was highly honored by the Coeur d'Alene Indians and received the Cataldo Medal in 2003.
Harry will always be remembered for his selfless generosity and absolute love for his family. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, Wallace, three sons, Harry James and his wife Nita, Coeur d'Alene, Thomas Robert and his wife Melissa, Spokane, John Magnuson and his fiancé Holly Houston of Coeur d'Alene, two daughters, Kathleen Magnuson Sheppard and husband Burton of Spokane, and Mary Elizabeth Magnuson of Seattle, grandchildren Jimmy and Clancy Magnuson, David, Daniel and Flora Sheppard, Wei Wei Magnuson, Tyanne Ward, Frankie and Emily Magnuson, and Jessie Graves, two younger brothers and their wives, Richard and Elsie Magnuson of Wallace and Bob and Elinor Magnuson of Spokane, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Vigil Service will be held at St. Alphonsus Church in Wallace at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 29, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church in Spokane, Washington. The family deeply appreciates the outpouring of love and support from people throughout the Northwest. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Harry and Colleen Magnuson Scholarship at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, 502 E. Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99258, or to the Wallace Civic Auditorium Association, P. O. Box 469, Wallace, Idaho 83873.
In honor of Harry, give someone less fortunate a hand up.
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." W. W. Campbell
Please read Harry's memorial and sign his online guestbook at hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.
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