Thomas “Lincoln” Harris

February 12, 1928 – February 5, 2016

Lincoln was born at Deer Lake in Sawyer County Wisconsin to Mark and Ethel Ammerman Harris of Exeland, Wisconsin.

 He was proceeded in death by: Father Mark Harris, Mother Ethel Harris Ploger, Brothers Warren and Dick Harris, Sister and Brother-in-law Flossie and Hank Reichel, Niece Joan Clark, Wife Dorothea Harris, Step son Teddy Kinniburgh, and Aunts and Uncles.

 He is survived by: Wife Vivian Harris, Daughter and Son-in-law Tamie and Warren (Bud) Patzer, 4 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren, Nieces Verna and (Karl) Schott, Jane Hanson, Nephew David and (Paula Reichel), Brothers Roger (Elaine) and Lyle Ploger, Sister Elsie Gustafson. 3 Step Children, 16 Step Grandchildren, 44 Step Great Grandchildren, 23 Step Great Great Grandchildren.

 At the age of 18 in 1946, Lincoln’s friend talked him into coming to Montana. “It only snows a little and then melts off,” said his friend, and Lincoln replied: “When I stepped off the train it started snowing and it didn’t stop until it snowed 4 feet on the level and stayed until late spring!” Thinking he would leave that spring…. until he went fishing and caught his limit in just a few hours made up his mind that was it! Marion Montana became his home.

On September 23, 1950 Lincoln and one of his best friends Ralph Provence received their draft letter for the Korean War. They were in the first bunch of draftees from Montana since WWII.  

He went into the Army as a Tank Gunner and was stationed two years in Germany.  When they came home in 1952 they were Active Reserves for eight more years.

 On January 18, 1965 Linc married Dorothea Kinniburgh for 34 years – March 2, 1999.

 On December 18, 2002 Linc married Vivian Locklin, and of course knowing Lincoln and the type of person he was, Vivian’s family and children welcomed him with open arms and loving kindness and so his family became bigger.

 2003- Lincoln and Vivian moved to Troy, Montana.

2013-2016 Lincoln, his daughter, and son-in-law Tamie and Bud Patzer lived together in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

 Lincoln was always known as the man who chewed on a cigar, and it was never lit up, or he always had a “story”…. or a “joke” ready to tell!

 Lincoln lived for the woods. He worked in the logging industry and woods work of some sort.  His happiest days were skidding and being a skidder operator. He was an avid hunter and after retiring he loved to go for rides to count how many elk, deer, sheep, bear, turkeys, and even squirrels he could see.  And OH MY GOSH! When he asked anyone to go blueberry picking you had better be ready for a real day of picking.  It was nothing for him to pick over 200lbs. in a summer, and then give half of them to friends and family.

 Linc also had a passion for anvils, and auctions and for his four legged friends and carried dog treats in the car to hand out on his rides. He also has a cat “Gus” who he taught to ride on the top of his car, and would give him a ride around the loop.  Then they would walk back to the house Gus following at his heels.

 Upon his request there is no funeral or grave side service.

 For any memorial he would say to you “Plant a blueberry bush and eat up!” or a Rhody and watch it bloom or “take your family or friends on a drive and count how many elk, deer, sheep, bear, or squirrels you see that day.”