Harriet Ann Williams

Harriet Ann “Yangie” Williams, age 78 of Park Rapids, MN, formerly of Hopkins, MN, peacefully entered the glorious splendor of Heaven on Friday, July 10, 2020 while in the comfort of her own home surrounded by her loved ones. Harriet was born on May 17, 1942, in Minneapolis, MN to Arthur and Edith (Johnson) Westover. She attended the Hopkins Public School system, graduating from Hopkins High School with the Class of 1960. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert M. Williams on September 24, 1960. This union was blessed with six children: Bob, Julie, Connie, Jamie, Tony and Suzie. Harriet devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children. The young couple made their first home in Hopkins and later moved to New Hope where they raised their family. Harriet was a wonderful cook and baker who will long be remembered for her delicious chicken noodle soup and shrimp gumbo. In addition to caring for her family, Harriet also served as a rural Minneapolis Tribune Newspaper delivery person for many years. Each spring she looked forward to planting a large vegetable garden that she nurtured into fruitful abundance to preserve for the needs of her large and growing family. She also raised colorful flowers for all to see and enjoy. Harriet was very active in the Girl Scout program as a Scout leader. In 1985, Harriet and Bob moved to Northern MN where they purchased the Fun Ta Boot Resort on Boot Lake, northwest of Park Rapids. Here she and Bob worked together in operating their resort in a career that spanned over 33 years until the fall of 2018. For many years, Harriet served on the Board of Directors of the MN Resorters and Campers Association and also had served a term as their President in 2005. In 2017, she and Bob were selected as “Resorters of the Year” in the state of MN. Harriet was a woman of deep faith. She was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Hope where she taught religious education and was a Eucharistic minister. During their years near Two Inlets, she was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she was a lector, taught religious education and served as the funeral lunch coordinator for years. Harriet had also served as a member of the Savannah Township Board for many years. For a number of winters, she and Bob traveled south to Port Aransas, TX where Harriet was elected to the Condominium Association Board of Directors where she also ran their winter activity Program. Above all, Harriet loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all her heart and cherished spending as much time as possible with them. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband for these past 60 years, Bob of Park Rapids; her three daughters: Julie (John) Wenner of Alexandria, MN, Connie (Jim) Leuer of Wayzata, MN, and Suzie (Kenny) Barr of Park Rapids; her three sons: Bob (Mona) Williams of Maple Grove, MN, Jamie (Kara) Williams of Alexandria, MN and Tony (Teri) Williams of Grand Rapids, MN; 17 dearly loved grandchildren and 15 precious great-grandchildren; her sister, Diane Wiehle of New Hope, MN as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Harriet was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held 10 AM Monday, July 20, 2020, at the St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids with Father Thomas Friedl celebrating. Her grandsons will serve as her active casket bearers and her granddaughters will serve as her honorary casket bearers. Interment will be made in her beloved St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at Two Inlets. Following the service, her church family will host a luncheon for all. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2020, from 3-6 PM at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids.