Max Harrell

Click to View Max's Funeral Service

Max Elroy Harrell, 89, of Miller, passed away Monday, March 7, 2022, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen. 

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller, Pastor Scot Tutt, officiating.  Burial will follow at St. Lawrence Cemetery.  A visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2022, all at the church.

Max was born November 26, 1932, to Creed and Alice (Clark) Harrell in Follett, TX.  He went to school in Follett until 8th grade when he moved to Miller, SD with his parents.  Max attended school in Miller until his junior year when he joined the military.

Max enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952 and was assigned to the USS Radford Destroyer.  During his service he traveled to China, Japan, Korea and the Marshall Islands.  Max was a member of a joint military effort at Operation Ivy in Eniwetok, Marshall Islands where they conducted atomic testing. 

After being honorably discharged in 1956, Max returned home to pursue his dream of farming and livestock production.  He met Wanda, the love of his life, when a farm accident put him in the hospital where she was his nurse.  Max married Wanda Esther Deuter Throop August 15, 1965.  They made their home in northern Hand County.  To this union 4 children were born. 

Max enjoyed playing cards and having a good laugh with family and friends or helping whereever he was needed.  In later years, Max and his brother Ola Ray would travel out of town to go shopping or find a farm auction where he would search for a good deal on anything whether he needed it or not.  He also loved to trade anything he could on the Farmers Market or in the Green Sheet.

Max is survived by his children and grandchildren: Lynn and Trish Harrell of St. Lawrence, SD and their sons: Colby and Ethan, Harry and Nancy Harrell of Miller, SD and their sons: Remington, Gentry, and Sawyer, Darvin and Nichole Harrell of Bennett, CO and their children: Audrey and Kody, Arlene (Rick) Batin of Miller, SD and their children: Alvena, Eli and Garrett; and many nieces and nephews.

Max was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda; his parents, Creed and Alice Harrell; his brothers: Claude, Willard, Ola and Norval; two infant brothers: Edward and Ernest; and sisters: Audrey Harrell Reger and Erma Harrell Hunter.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Max’s arrangements.