Harriett Vandegrift

Memorial Services for Harriett F. Vandegrift, of Albert Lea will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 6 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea. The Reverend Don Malinsky will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call at Bonnerup Funeral Service one hour before services. Harriett died on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. She was 91. She was born on January 3, 1926, in Algona, Iowa, the daughter of Ethan and Mary Jane (Rich) Light. She graduated from high school in Rake, Iowa and attended Mankato Commercial College. Harriett married Howard L. Vandegrift on January 20, 1945, and they made Albert Lea their home. Throughout her life she had worked at Wilson and Company, Universal Milking Machine, the Credit Bureau of Albert Lea, and National Welding Supply, spending 30 years working outside the home. Her real joy came from making a loving home for her husband, sons, and grandchildren. Harriett had fun loving adventuresome spirit. Throughout her life she was blessed to have done many things most would have only imagined including: skydiving, motorcycling, diving in the Red Sea and scuba diving. She loved to travel with her trip to Egypt being a very precious memory. Harriett is survived by children: Glen (Sandy) Vandegrift of Billings, MT, David (Mary) Vandegrift of St. Paul, MN, Marc (Karen) Vandegrift of Marshalltown , IA and Brian (Kristi) Vandegrift of Albert Lea, MN; grandchildren: Shaun Vandegrift, Calley Vandegrift, Jennifer (Dan) Sweet, Todd Vandegrift, Jill Vandegrift, Kelsey Vandegrift Alison Vandegrift, Matthew Vandegrift; great grandchildren: Ashley (John) Powers, Alexander Vandegrift, Dartagnan, Atrayu, Declan and Tannekin Sweet and a great great grandchild soon to come; brothers: Dale (Dee) Light of Breckenridge, MN, John (Ginny) Light of Albert Lea ; sister Pat (Roger) Bekaert; many nieces and nephews and all of her special pet friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Ethan and Mary Jane Light and her husband Howard Vandegrift, sister Virginia Nelson and her husband Don and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and two nephews. Harriett made a positive impact on all those whose lives she touched. Her kind, compassionate soul was always there to lend a hand, an ear, and her heart. In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to Albert Lea Mayo Hospice or St. John’s Lutheran Community.