William Ross Harmonson

     William Ross Harmonson, the son of Ross and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Shearer) Harmonson was born at home on May 1, 1928 in Linn Co., TX. His childhood years were spent in the Brownfield, TX area where he attended school and graduated from Brownfield High School in 1945.

     Ross married Shelba Patterson on December 23, 1946 in Linn Co., TX. After his college graduation from Wayland Baptist University in 1950, they moved to Mill Valley, CA where he attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. After his graduation in 1963 they were appointed Pastoral Missionaries under the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. They worked with churches in Texas, California, Oregon, South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and Iowa. They began the Ninth Street Baptist Church in Spencer, IA in 1975 and ministered there until 1982.  They then moved to Cedar Rapids, IA and began working as a director of missions in the Eastern region of IA working with pastors and churches in the area until 1987.  They returned to Spencer in 1987 and continued working as a director of missions in the western region of IA until his retirement in 1993. Ross enjoyed woodworking, fishing and hunting and was a member of the Golden Kiwanis.

      Ross was very loyal to his family and his church wherever he was serving.  He was constantly on call to lend a hand to anyone in need.  He was the kind of person who never met a stranger.  His service to his family caused them to feel loved and secure and he was always available to them.  He carried out Romans 12:11: “not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” 

     Ross passed away on Monday, November 21, 2022 at his home in Spencer, IA, at the age of 94. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a son, Richard Harmonson, a daughter Carol McLain, 2 grandsons, Nathan Beck and Joshua Yoder, one granddaughter Dakota West, 3 brothers, Perry, Mack, and Tom, and 6 sisters, Mary, Beulah, Madge, Zella, Eva Lois, and Marguerite. 

     Left to cherish his memory are his 5 children, Carleen Hayes of Lubbock, TX, Deborah (Benjamin) Yoder of Ankeny, IA, Janice Roberts of Sioux Falls, SD, Marsha Harmonson of Spencer, IA, Llewellyn Harmonson of Grapevine, TX; 30 grandchildren; 74 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; other relatives; and many friends.

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