Jeane Lowe and Bill Harten attended Pocatello Idaho High School together and were fellow musicians during those busy years. Bill joined the US Navy to receive training as a US Navy musician. He was a Petty Officer and Mus1c, miraculously surviving the sinking of the USS West Virginia during the Dec. 7th attack on Pearl Harbor, then spent four of his six years of USN service at Pearl Harbor during WWII. Jeane had also joined the Navy as an Aviation Free Gunnery Instructor.

When Bill finally was transferred stateside to Washington, D.C. in 1945, the two were able to rediscover the magic they could make on stage and off with their music, friendship, and other talents. They were married in uniform and enjoyed 61 harmonious years together, raising two musical children and a large crop of musical descendants who keep their legacy thriving.

William "Bill" Harten was born March 15, 1921 in Pocatello, ID, to William Harten and Sarah McDonald. Bill grew up in Pocatello, graduating from Pocatello High School in 1940. As high school bandmaster he composed the Indian fight song, "Oskeow-wow," used today.

He joined the Navy in 1940 and studied music at the Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C., graduating in April 1941. Originally assigned to the U.S.S. Arizona band, Bill was transferred to the U.S.S. West Virginia in September 1941. He was aboard on December 7 when Pearl Harbor was attacked and went down with it after it took nine torpedo hits. One of the last to make it off the West Virginia, Bill managed a harrowing escape through a cargo hatch. Under enemy fire he jumped overboard, then swam around burning battleships to Ford Island. After the attack he was reassigned to the Pacific Submarine Fleet based at Pearl Harbor.

During WWII Bill was a Navy musician, singing and playing trumpet with the Navy band and on a regular armed forces radio show heard throughout the Pacific. He toured with USO troupes with celebrities Bob Hope, Artie Shaw, and Claude Thornhill to entertain our men in arms throughout the Pacific, and also served as a Navy Band Master.

After WWII Bill was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he played for hundreds of military burial services at Arlington Cemetery. He also played for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's funeral and the Inauguration of President Harry S. Truman.

Bill married Jeane Lowe, his high school sweetheart in Deland, Florida on March 21, 1945 while both still served in the Navy. They were sealed September 8, 1950, in Idaho Falls Temple. After being honorably discharged as a Petty Officer Musician 1st Class, Bill returned to Pocatello with his family where he completed his Bachelor's
degree in business at Idaho State College. During that time he worked
as an insurance agent, a school bus driver, taught music at the Inkom
elementary school, and directed his own professional dance band for many
years. He was awarded a Presidential Commendation for his thesis on the
causes for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bill was also part of the well-known
"Trumpet Trio" along with his brother, Kenny Harten, and George Hart. They regularly played for countless local patriotic and civic events in Pocatello.

After moving his family to Idaho Falls in 1954, Bill worked as an accountant for General Electric until 1958. Bill then worked for the Atomic Energy Commission (now the Department of Energy) until his retirement in 1986. He also had his own accounting tax business for over thirty years.

William "Bill" Harten, 83, of Idaho Falls, died June 30, 2004 in Bountiful, Utah, following a severe stroke. He resided in Pocatello a total of 27 years and in Idaho Falls for 50 years. As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in various positions over the years. Bill especially enjoyed music, temple work, scouting, boating, and the outdoors and participated for many years as trumpeter with Bonneville County Veterans of Foreign Wars Unit.

He was survived by his wife of 59 years, his daughter Valerie (Doyle) Briggs, South Jordan, UT, son William Scott (Janice) Harten, Woods Cross, UT, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and brother Kenneth (Lucille) Harten, Pocatello. Bill was preceded by his parents, infant brother William Harten, and half sisters Eileen Price Pizer and Edna Price Johnson.

Funeral Services held Saturday, July 10, 2004, at Idaho Falls 16th Ward, 855 South Boulevard, with Brian Burton of the Bishopric, officiating. Interment was at Mountain View Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by Bonneville County Veterans Team.