HARDING, FRANK AND IVA TUCKER

by Frank Harding

Entry F182 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Frank and Iva (Tucker) Harding and daughters, Patrica and Karen, 1964.

Frank and Beth (Simonson) Harding, 1982

Frank E. Harding, sons of Lester L. and
Pearl Crain Harding, was born in Mullen
Nebraska 1922.

He attended 8 years of country school, in
District #4 southwest of Mullen. For his first
year of High School, he and his brother,
Forrest, rode horseback to Mullen. The next
year they bought a used Model `A' Ford and
drove. Forrest graduated from Hooker
county high school in 1937 and Frank in 1939.

In 1942 Frank joined the U.S. Navy and
served 4 years with the 7th fieet in the South
Pacific.

In 1946 he bought some land adjoining his
parent's place and as Forrest had also
purchased adjoining land, in 1950 they
formed a Partnership with their parents and
operated as the Harding Cattle Co. until
1960, when their father died and the ranch
was re-divided.

Frank married Iva Tucker Malony March
17, 1956. Iva was the daughter of Placer and
Lenora Morrow Tucker and was born in the
rectory of the Episcopal Church when the
church was located in east Mullen, near
Cedarview cemetery. She graduated from
Hooker County high school in 1933 and
taught several rural schools in south Hooker
County. Later, after attending college, she
taught schools in Nebr. and Iowa and before
returning to Hooker County in 1952, was
secretary to the head of the Education Dept.
at Morningside College in Souix City.

Iva and Frank's children are; Sandra
Sillisen, who is married to Ed Norton and
they operate Nortons Music Services which
edits TV films and they live in Los Angeles,
Calif.; Patricia Ann born 1951 who
married Michael Gannon of Martin, South
Dakota. Patricia is a Medical Transcription-
ist and her husband is a Lt. Colonel in the Air
Force. They have 4 sons, Kevin born in
Austin, Texas 1972, Dennis born in Norman
Okla. 1975, Bryan born in Yakota, Japan
1978 and Christopher born in Wahiawa
Hawaii 1981; Karen Marie, born 1957
and is married to Harold Juzenas. Karen
teaches school in Creighton Nebr. and Harold
is a painter. They have one daughter, Jessica,
born 1985.

After the Harding Cattle Co. was dissolved
in 1960, Frank's share ofthe land did not have
improvements so they bought the Garrett
place, three miles west of Mullen, which
joined their land and they moved there in
1961.

Iva Tucker Harding died June 16, 1975 and
is buried in Cedarview cemetery.

Frank served on the Mullen School Board
1962-1968. During this time the present High
School was built. He also was on the Hooker
County Board of Commissioners from 1967
through 1986, except for one term during
Iva's illness and death in 1975.

Frank married Beth Simonson Anders,
daughter of Carl and June Kemp Simonson,
on Feb. 24, 1979. They lived on his ranch 3
miles west of Mullen until 1985 when he
leased his ranch and they retired to Beth's
home in Mullen.