Harold D. Youngern

Harold D. Youngern, 79, of Rimrock died August 24. He was born March 13, 1930 in Doland, South Dakota. He lived in Doland until he was about ten years old then his family moved to Watertown where he lived until entering the service, which he entered at the age of 16. After basic training in Fort Riley in Kansas, he served at Fort Dix where he learned teletype. He taught teletype and was given top security clearance where he intercepted teletypes from all over the world and sent them to the Pentagon. The high security building which he worked from was disguised as a barn. After the service, he worked in several different capacities such as with Swifts meat packing plant, he drove truck, and then finally settled as clerk with National T-shirts in Watertown. He became manager and served as a store manager in Brookings, Madison, North Dakota and back to Mobridge. Deciding against a transfer to a store in Sioux Falls, he left the company. He worked in the banking business. In 1961 he moved to California to join family members. He worked at the Hughes Market, first as a clerk, five years later he was a store manager managing locations in Studio City, Pacific Palisades, Simi Valley and Chatsworth. After 32 years with Hughes Market, he retired in 1992. One of his remembrances was fighting an armed store robber and receiving commendations from the City Council. He was involved with the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Mobridge and Madison. He was twice selected as "Man of the Year". He went to the state finals. He was also active in the Lions Club. H e was baptized as a Lutheran in Madison, South Dakota and served as a Deacon .He remained a Lutheran throughout his various communities that he lived and was currently a member of the Christ Lutheran Church. Golf was his longtime hobby and he organized and played Hughes Markets tournaments. He was able to participate in the Pro AM Tournament held at Wood Ranch in Simi Valley where he played and had dinner with the professionals, including Chi Chi Rodriguez. He carried this passion over into his retirement where active in the golf community. As Director of the men's club, he organized and hosted Cinco de Mayo and Super Bowl parties and had also been president of the Crickets traveling league. Mr. Youngern also loved to garden, his attempts at a vibrant vegetable garden fell victim to the animals. He will be remembered for his basic principles of fairness, honesty, respect, hard work, kindness and love in all of his children through the way he chose to live himself. He leaves his wife of 59 years, Mitzi; sons Michael Youngern (Karen) of California; Timothy Youngern (Cory) of California; Paul Youngern (Kathy) of Oregon; daughters, Wendy Zumbahlen (Michael), Susan Tandberg (Eugene) and Ellen Sandwick, all of California; seven grandchildren, Patrick, Heather, Ryan, Melissa, Christa, Chelsea and Brian; and one great-grandchild, Erick. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 29 in the Christ Lutheran Church, 25 Chapel Rd., Village of Oak Creek, Sedona at 11 AM. Donations in his memory may be made to Hospice Compassus, 70 Bell Rock Plaza, Sedona 86331. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com