Monte Lee Harnden

Obituary

Monte Lee Harnden

April 28, 1953- February 7, 2023

Monte Lee Harnden, 69, passed away surrounded by his family at his home in Worland, Wyoming on February 7, 2023 from Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Born in Laramie, Wyoming on April 28, 1953, Monte was the youngest of Chuck and Vonnie (Martin) Harnden's two children. His life was one filled with faith, family and friends.

Monte grew up in Greybull, Wyoming where he and his brother, Robb, were always finding creative ways to have fun. Before either of them were tall enough to drive, they took a 1954 International farm truck out for a joy ride. Through a coordinated effort, one would stand on the seat to operate the steering wheel and stick shift, while the other would sit on the floor operating the foot petals. After accidentally driving the truck into a dry irrigation ditch, they were rescued by their parents, who instead of condemning their behavior, encouraged their ingenuity.

Boy Scouts was another large part of Monte's childhood. Eventually earning his Eagle Scout distinction, he attributed many of his core values to the foundational lessons and experiences he had in scouts. It was also through Boy Scouts that he was introduced to caving (spelunking), thus sparking a life-long passion for exploring the earth's hidden nooks and crannies to find beauty hidden in the deepest recesses of the darkest caverns. Over the next several decades, Monte was heavily involved in the exploration and mapping of several cave systems in Wyoming and neighboring states. As a self-taught student of geology, he was never shy about providing a lesson on the intricacies of sandstone, limestone, or the "Madison formation".

As a teenager, Monte and his close friends also developed an interest in dirt bikes. They spent countless hours and sometimes days on dirt bike trips. Their time was spent racing and climbing steep hills to see who could make it the highest before turning around. His love for dirt bikes never subsided and he frequently attended the dirt bike hill climbing competitions in Billings, Montana.

In 1971 Monte graduated from Greybull High School. After working as a summer hand, while attending Casper College, he went to work full time for Marathon Pipeline Company in 1974. Starting his career on the pipeline construction crew, he held many positions at the company before retiring as a Senior Operations Technician in 2014. During his tenure at Marathon he helped design and implement the underground utility locating program, which is still used today. He fondly recounted his time with the company and often spoke of the great men he worked with as extended family.

Upon retirement, Monte and his wife Liz began traveling to many destinations of interest. As to not sacrifice the creature comforts of home for life on the road, they purchased a large fifth-wheel RV and spent the next few years traveling the country in search of unique and obscure attractions off the beaten path.

Monte was also an avid lover of his dogs, who were always sure to be included in his many adventures. Much to the chagrin of the rest of his family, he would humorously spoil his animals. Always one to push a joke, Monte made it a point to showcase his dogs' lavish accessories including a custom built 4-wheeler chair, doll sized ornate bed, thick insulated coats, gourmet treats, fleece-lined nonslip booties, and even a top handled umbrella leash to keep them sheltered from the elements while on walks. When asked about what the neighbors might be thinking of his public displays of dog pampering, his only comment was, "Let's give them something to talk about."

Unknown to most, Monte also liked to spend much of his time on his artistic endeavors. Clay, metal, wood, and stone, he would try almost any medium to achieve the perfect sculpture. Toiling for weeks, he would proudly display his latest work for only a short time before turning his attention to his next creation.

Among his other interests, Monte was an enthusiastic fly fisherman. Although he was able to fish all around the world, Meadowlark remained among his top spots to enjoy the sport. Whenever given the chance, Monte could be found quietly wading through local rivers or peacefully floating in his fishing raft on nearby lakes. Fishing remained one of Monte's favorite relaxation activities and some of his most treasured memories were of times spent laughing with his dad and sons, fishing pole in hand.

Throughout his life, Monte was a man of God. He was passionate about his faith and devoted his life to learning, understanding and living out God's Word. He and Liz enjoyed attending faith seminars and made a pilgrimage to Israel in 2012. His compassion toward others and willingness to lend a helping hand has left his wife, kids and grandkids with a sense of great pride and many wonderful memories.

Monte was preceded in death by his parents, Chuck and Vonnie and his grandson, Caleb Harnden.

He is survived by his loving wife, Liz Harnden of Worland; sons, Dr. Chris (Alisa) Harnden of Steamboat, Colorado and Tyler (Hannah) Harnden of Windsor, Colorado; stepchildren, Jim (Sheila) Prell, Amber (Doug) Green and Joe (Christine) Prell all of Newcastle, Wyoming; brother Robbin (Billie) Harnden of Glenrock, Wyoming and 4 grandchildren: Noah, Riley, Jayden, Briella.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, June 10, 2023 at the Worland Community Center Complex Library. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Monte's name to The Ronald McDonald House in memory of Caleb Harnden. Checks may be sent to PO Box 524 Worland, WY 82401. Condolences can be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.