Harold Carl Schaeffer
Harold Carl Schaeffer of Othello passed away on Friday, March 8, 2019. He was born Jan. 16, 1925 to Henry and Elfreda Schaeffer in rural Barton County, Kansas and was the oldest of five children: Marvin, Alice, Henry Jr. and Darlene. The family farmed north of Schofield Cemetery for five years and later moved to Crook, Colorado in 1930 where Harold started school and finished his sophomore year at Crook County High School, then worked for his grandfather on his farm.
In December 1944 Harold was drafted in the Army and did his basic training at Fort Hood, Texas. Harold was going to deploy to Germany, when Germany surrendered. Harold then went to the Philippines with the American infantry division where he contracted yellow jaundice. After getting over this he reenlisted and joined the Air Force and reported to Fort Lowry at Denver, Colorado and was in the military police. He then signed up for Germany where he served for three years. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1948 and arrived home by taxi, surprising his parents.
Harold worked in the oil fields in Kansas for a year. He was introduced to Willa Jean Beetz by a cousin in 1949 and they married a year later on Feb. 22, 1950 in Sterling, Kansas.
He farmed the family farm in Hoisington and drove a milk route for the local milk cheese factory until he dislocated his shoulder too many times. Later he worked for the Kansas Brick and Tile plant in Great Bend and continued to farm.
They then moved to Wall, South Dakota and Harold worked on the Jensen farm in 1959.
They moved to Missoula, Montana and Harold worked at Anaconda Lumber Mill and was custodian for the Methodist Church. In 1965 Harold moved his family to Othello, Washington and he worked for various farmers (Adams, Barker, Anderson and Smith) in the Othello area and Lentz farms in Pasco.
Harold worked for the ECBID for 12 years and retired.
He was caretaker for the Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens for 11 year s— and made it truly look like a “garden.”
He then retired to remodel his home, garden and enjoy his grandchildren. He also loved to listen to polkas.
Harold is survived by his three children Carla Hampton of Othello, James (Robin) of Wenatchee and Ivan (Angie) of Richland; grandchildren Bobby, Blake (Casie) and Bekki Hampton; Brittany and Stephen Schaeffer and Tyler, Rylie and Kian Schaeffer; great-grandchildren Brett and Logan Hampton and siblings Alice Kiel of Independence, Missouri, Henry of Shelton, Washington and Darlene (Larry) Meyer of Liberal, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and brother.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Nazarene Church of Othello, 835 S. 10th Ave., Othello, Washington. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Hoisington City Cemetery, Hoisington, Kansas.
Please leave a memory for the family or sign their online guestbook at www.scharbachs.com.
Scharbach’s Columbia Funeral Chapel, Quincy, Washington is assisting the family with arrangements.