HARDING - SIMONSON FAMILY

by Jean Harding

Entry F181 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Forrest and Jean Harding.

Forrest Lester Harding was born August
26, 1919 in Mullen, Nebraska to Lester L.
Harding and Pearl M. Crain Harding, and
died November 20, 1985. Jean Simonson
Harding was born March 29, 1915 to Nels M.
Simonson and Marguerite Stewart Simonson
northwest of Mullen.

Forrest lived all his life on the ranch 5 miles
southwest of Mullen until 1979, when he and
Jean bought a house and moved into town.

They were married at her parent's home
June 29, 1941.

Forrest was a member of the Masonic
Lodge, B.P.O. Elks, Scottish Rites, and
Nebraska Stock Growers. He served on the
Hooker County School Board, Board of
Directors for The Land Bank, Hospital
Board, ASCS and NRD. Jean attended The
University of Nebraska, Chadron State, and
Lincoln School of Commerce. She taught
school for six years in Hooker and Cherry
Counties. They were both graduates of
Mullen High School and members of St.
Joseph's Episcopal Church.

Their children are: Marguerite and Mi-
chael (twins) born 1942, Jon born
1946, and Tony born
1952.

At present Rita, husband Arnold Fischer
and Forrest (born 1973) live in
Juneau, Alaska where Rita works for the
State of Alaska and Arnold at Hildre Con-
struction Company.

Mick and wife Midge live in the ranch
south of Mullen. Their children are Lloyd
(born 1967), a student at The
University of Nebraska, and Margo (born
1970) a High School senior.

Jon and wife Mary Lou live on a ranch
north of Hyannis. Their children are Leslie
(born 1975) and Thomas Jon
(T.J.) born 1978.

Tony and wife Melba live in Seneca. He
works for a Construction Company. Their
children are Misty (born 1982)
and Michelle (born 1984).

The Harding children are all graduates of
Mullen High School.