HARRY HERMAN SANFORD

Quiet perseverance is the best way to describe a selfless man that many knew but really didn’t know.  Harry was a quiet, loyal, and kind person that was a true example of how to live a simple life. 

Harry Herman Sanford, 88, was born the son of Claude Leonard and Herminnie May (Brockmeyer) Sanford on Saturday, February 5, 1936 on Upper LaPrele in the family home, and passed away in his home in Douglas Wyoming on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

He will be honored with a memorial service of his life on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at Gorman Funeral Homes-Converse Chapel with Pastor Tom Strock officiating, starting at 4:00 P.M.  Gathering after will be at the Douglas Moose Lodge #602 in Douglas.  Basic beverages will be provided and snacks welcomed (can be delivered to Moose anytime on Tuesday).

According to his self-titled “My Life” that Harry wrote in grade school, he weighed exactly 8 pounds and was born at 8 o’clock in the morning.  His words say that he never liked his photo taken at any age so there are not many pictures of Harry, but he lived a life worth writing about!

In his memoirs, he talks of going over to his grandparents’ house to pick up the mail and helping his family and surrounding ranches in the hayfields or with ranch duties and chores.  His grade school years were spent with the children of neighboring ranch families at the Beaver School on LaPrele Creek.  They sometimes spent time at the Wyoming State Fair or going to visit relatives in North Dakota or other places. For high school, the Sanford kids attended Douglas High School, often staying with relatives in town to make sure they got to classes in case of inclement weather.  Harry graduated as Valedictorian of the class of 1954, and served as Student Council President during his senior year as well.

Harry voluntarily joined the United States Army after High School, as he and his brother, Leroy, both decided to forego college so their younger sister, Pauline, could have the opportunity instead.  After spending several years serving our country, he was honorably discharged, and returned to his home area. 

As is often the case in small communities, his life was closely intertwined with other families.  In this case, he worked with the Russell family for his entire adult life (his brother-in-law, Ben, has a sister that married in to the Russell family).  In his notes he relayed that his first job was with Fred Grant but beyond that, he worked for three generations of the Russell family, including at the sawmill in the mountains.  He started working with Floyd and Velma Russell before going to the service and then came back to work with Jack, Vern and Glenn.  Harry was still actively working with Bill Russell at the time of his death at Russell Construction.  He still was driving to the office every week, working as an Estimator, and making the daily trip over to the Post Office to pick up the mail.  Bill relayed that they still had to find things to keep Harry’s mind busy at work. 

Life experiences for Harry mainly centered around all things hunting related.  He often hunted in Alaska and Canada and had many trophy mounts to show for his adventures, some of which are hanging in Grasslands Market in Douglas.  He had filled 3 of the 4 North American Big Horn Sheep tags and had harvested several Moose and Caribou over the years.                                                                                                                                                                     

Harry was a lifetime member of the Douglas Moose Lodge, following in the footsteps of his late father, who was Governor of the Moose at the time of his death.  In 2020, Harry was awarded a certificate for 50 Years of Service to the Moose as a Life Member.  He also belonged to the Professional Alaskan Hunters Association for many years.

When viewing his household, it is obvious that passions of Harry’s included collecting guns and coins, following the money markets, and simply doing things that he enjoyed like hunting or spending time at the family ranch.  He was a very detail oriented and organized person who also loved his things. 

Survivors include niece Pamela Middleton Haar and husband Ron; brother-in-law Ben Middleton; three step-nieces and their families; and first cousins Doris Rohrer and Jim Hageman.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Claude Leonard Sanford on July 2, 1954 and Herminnie May Sanford on December 4, 1968; brother, Leroy Leonard Sanford on May 5,2011; sister, Pauline Pearl Middleton on September 4, 2020; and nephew, Kelly Robert Middleton on June 11, 2014 (nephew).

Honorary pallbearers to include his co-worker family (all of the Russell’s), the Boxelder Community, his beloved cousins, tend anyone else that knew and cared for Harry.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Douglas Moose Lodge #602, P.O. Box 168, Douglas, Wyoming 82633, Ranchers Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the Converse County Bank, P.O. Box 689, Douglas, Wyoming 82633, or Douglas FFA Chapter, 615 Hamilton Street, Douglas, Wyoming 82633.

The Gorman Funeral Homes-Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com 

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