Harold Root, age 84, of 466 Frank Ave. SE, Huron, SD, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at his home.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 5, from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m. and a Devotional Service at 7 p.m.; or Monday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Harold DeWayne Root was born on October 18, 1924, to Levings Ward Root and Louise (Domogalski) Root in Colome, SD. He moved with his family to Yankton, SD; Lesterville, SD, where he attended elementary school; and Wolsey, SD, where he graduated from Wolsey High School in 1943. Following graduation, he worked at an auto service station in Wolsey prior to his entry into the military.

On March 29, 1944, during World War II, Harold entered the U.S. Army and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations with the 11th Airborne Division on the Philippine Islands. He was honorably discharged on May 13, 1946.

On March 16, 1947, Harold married Jessie Burnett in Huron. The couple have made Huron their home since that time.

Harold worked for Red Owl Grocery for 2 years; the railrod for 2 years; Armour & Company for 6 months; then the City of Huron in the water purification plant for 37 years, the last 17 years as supervisor. In 1980, he was honored with the most prestigious award in the water treatment field, the George Warren Fuller Award. He retired on October 31, 1986.

He was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church; South Dakota Wastewater Conference; AWWA (American Water Works Association; Hershman Gordon American Legion Post #59 of Wolsey; and life member (61 years actual) of the Forrest McMullen VFW Post #1776 of Huron.

His many interests included a love for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, visiting with his many friends, enjoying family gatherings, bowling, and being a hunting guide. Harold would help anyone who was in want or need. No one was a stranger to him for very long, for that stranger would soon become an immediate, lasting friend. Harold loved every minute of life; he loved to laugh, tell stories and jokes, and whenever you saw him, he would have a smile upon his face.

He is survived by his wife, Jessie of Huron; 5 children, Myra VanderHeiden of Appleton, WI, Rita (Tom) Nagan of Kaukauna, WI, Doug (Shelly) Root of Watertown, SD, Russell (Dee Arnott) Root of Huron, SD, and Don (Betty) Root of Orange City, IA; 20 grandchildren, Brad VanderHeiden, Becky VanderHeiden, Melissa Nagan, Brett Nagan, Steffanie Nagan, Jessie Lynn Johnson, Sara Root, Katie Root, Ryan Root and special friend Jill Helvik, Dillon Root, Dean (Staci) Plunkett, Dominic Plunkett and special friend Reva Waldner, Jessica Root, Joshua Root, Casey Root, Becca Arnott, Ashley Arnott, Cammie Arnott, Kalyn Root, and Collin Root; 11 great grandchildren; 2 nieces and 1 nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 1 son, Fredrick Rick Root; 2 grandchildren, Daniel VanderHeiden, and Brian VanderHeiden; 1 sister in infancy; 3 sisters and their husbands, Leone (Bob) Marske, Dorothy (LeRoy) Bult, and Marie (Darrell) French; 1 half-brother, Ward Johnson; 2 nieces, Pamela Bult and MaryLou Gauer; and 1 nephew, Jim Marske;