Harold Edgar McGowan was born to Howard and Beatrice (Larson) McGowan, May 29, 1934, Woodside Township Minnesota. He and his mother were then brought to Wesley Hospital in Wadena Minnesota. The family relocated to rural Richville, Minnesota, where he grew up in the woods, on the family farms near Rush Lake, Head & Jeff Lakes, & Ottertail area hunting and fishing beside his brother, dad and uncles.

Harold attended country school at the 240 District until 8th grade. He later attended the Richville/Perham district. Harold left his education early to enlist into the United States Air Force. A first marriage, though brief, was blessed with three children, Linda, Robert, and Diane.

After his time serving in the United States Air Force, Harold married the love of his life, Mary (Marxen) in California. The two of them built their lives together with the blessings of Susan, Debbie, Nina, Sharon, Marion, Teresa and Harold.

While in California working as a professional driver for Continental Trailways bus lines and Mayflower, Harold and Mary later owned and operated Texaco, Hal’s Auto, and Murphy’s Mortuary Transportation.

In 1975, they moved to Perham Minnesota, where Harold was a mechanic for Standard until returning to commercial driving for several Minnesota trucking companies. In later years, he and Mary proudly owned and operated the best family run Italian restaurant in Central, Minnesota, “Trocano’s” Ottertail, Crosby, and Crosslake. In his retirement years, he enjoyed driving Andersen bus lines across the country chartering groups of various travelers.

Hal, as many knew him, was a man who wore many hats, gave lots of laughs, wonderful stories, and enjoyed many great life experiences, always enjoying the spotlight of attention. He enjoyed old country, gospel, bluegrass, and polka music, his faith, his country, and most of all loving his wife and family.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Howard and Beatrice; brother, Gerald; infant brother, Darrell; sisters, Lorene & Irene; daughters Linda, Diane and Sharon.

Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Mary; children, Susan Murphy; Deborah Laudermilk; Nina Huntley; Bob (Charlotte) McGowan; Marion (Ron) Nelson; Teresa Vareberg; and Harold (Brenda) McGowan; sisters, Ardith Alstadt and Marie Niccum; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; many nieces & nephews and a host of friends.