Mel was married to William (Bill) C. Harrison for 59 years. She grew up on a farm in the Black Hills of South Dakota and was valedictorian of her high school class.
She trained as a radio operator after graduation and was hired by United Air Lines and based in Seattle, WA, where she met Bill. They moved to Omaha in 1953, where they raised their family and retired. Mel was proud of her rural, Finnish heritage.
She was a lifelong, eclectic reader, belonging to several book clubs and serving as a volunteer librarian at Elmwood Tower. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, walks, and family outings. She kept up with current events and was conversant on a range of topics. She was also an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.
Preceded by:
Finnish immigrant parents, Isaac and Laura Ala
Sister: Viola
Brother: Alvin
Survived by:
Sister: Elsie Bigelow
Children: Laura (Michael) Pribyl, Wayne (Jennie) Harrison, Gary (Karon) Harrison and Rebecca (Douglas) Philpott-Jones
Niece: Penny (Dennis) Wight
18 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-nephews
Omaha World Herald
Nov 2019
She trained as a radio operator after graduation and was hired by United Air Lines and based in Seattle, WA, where she met Bill. They moved to Omaha in 1953, where they raised their family and retired. Mel was proud of her rural, Finnish heritage.
She was a lifelong, eclectic reader, belonging to several book clubs and serving as a volunteer librarian at Elmwood Tower. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, walks, and family outings. She kept up with current events and was conversant on a range of topics. She was also an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.
Preceded by:
Finnish immigrant parents, Isaac and Laura Ala
Sister: Viola
Brother: Alvin
Survived by:
Sister: Elsie Bigelow
Children: Laura (Michael) Pribyl, Wayne (Jennie) Harrison, Gary (Karon) Harrison and Rebecca (Douglas) Philpott-Jones
Niece: Penny (Dennis) Wight
18 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-nephews
Omaha World Herald
Nov 2019
Mel was married to William (Bill) C. Harrison for 59 years. She grew up on a farm in the Black Hills of South Dakota and was valedictorian of her high school class.
She trained as a radio operator after graduation and was hired by United Air Lines and based in Seattle, WA, where she met Bill. They moved to Omaha in 1953, where they raised their family and retired. Mel was proud of her rural, Finnish heritage.
She was a lifelong, eclectic reader, belonging to several book clubs and serving as a volunteer librarian at Elmwood Tower. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, walks, and family outings. She kept up with current events and was conversant on a range of topics. She was also an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.
Preceded by:
Finnish immigrant parents, Isaac and Laura Ala
Sister: Viola
Brother: Alvin
Survived by:
Sister: Elsie Bigelow
Children: Laura (Michael) Pribyl, Wayne (Jennie) Harrison, Gary (Karon) Harrison and Rebecca (Douglas) Philpott-Jones
Niece: Penny (Dennis) Wight
18 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-nephews
Omaha World Herald
Nov 2019
She trained as a radio operator after graduation and was hired by United Air Lines and based in Seattle, WA, where she met Bill. They moved to Omaha in 1953, where they raised their family and retired. Mel was proud of her rural, Finnish heritage.
She was a lifelong, eclectic reader, belonging to several book clubs and serving as a volunteer librarian at Elmwood Tower. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, walks, and family outings. She kept up with current events and was conversant on a range of topics. She was also an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.
Preceded by:
Finnish immigrant parents, Isaac and Laura Ala
Sister: Viola
Brother: Alvin
Survived by:
Sister: Elsie Bigelow
Children: Laura (Michael) Pribyl, Wayne (Jennie) Harrison, Gary (Karon) Harrison and Rebecca (Douglas) Philpott-Jones
Niece: Penny (Dennis) Wight
18 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-nephews
Omaha World Herald
Nov 2019
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