Fay L. Harrington

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Fay L. Harrington passed away Saturday, December 21, 2002 at the age of 77, after a valiant struggle with cancer. Fay was born April 29, 1925 in Walker, MN, to Everett (Pat) and Laura Harrington. He grew up in and around Hackensack, MN, and graduated from Hackensack High School in 1943. Fay married Dorothy Groth of Ogema, MN, on September 20, 1952. They settled in Hackensack, where they raised five daughters. Fay served in the 537th Light Pontoon Bridge Company under George Patton in World War II in France, Luxembourg and Germany. After the war, Fay returned home to Hackensack and immediately began what would be a life-long career in conservation. Fay started work at the Cass County Land Department in July of 1946. In 1949, he joined the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Commission as a forester. In 1971, Fay was appointed Cass County Land Commissioner and held that position until his retirement in 1985. In addition to his family, Fay's greatest legacy is the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve. During his term as Land Commissioner, Fay arranged for the county to set aside over 6000 acres of tax-forfeited land in Cass County to form the Reserve, an area set aside for environmental and conservation education. Fay was also an active member of the Isaac Walton League of America, the American Legion, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hackensack. Fay was preceded in death by his father, Everett (Pat) Harrington and by his mother, Laura Harrington, who passed on December 20 at the age of 102. Fay is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Dorothy Harrington of Hackensack, and five daughters, Cynthia Harrington of Los Angeles, CA, Barbara Harrington of Northfield, MN, Kristi (Robert) Loftis of Maple Lake, MN, Lynne (Paul) Blomgren of Minneapolis, MN and Sue (Doug) Toth of Edina, MN. Fay also is survived by five grandchildren, Joe, Danny and Michael Toth; Jonathan and George Ann Loftis, and a host of loving friends and relatives. Funeral and memorial services for both Laura and Fay Harrington will be held at 11 am on Saturday, December 28, 2002 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hackensack, with a visitation with the family at the church an hour before the service. Arrangements with the Kline Funeral Home of Pine River. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Hackensack at a later date. Memorials are preferred to either the American Cancer Society, 750 Paul Bunyan Dr., Ste 7, Bemidji, MN 56601; or to the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve, 2197 Nature Center Drive NW, Hackensack, MN 56452.

Published on December 24, 2002