Duane E Harrel was born September 16, 1945, in Livingston, MT and passed away on February 6, 2024, in Philipsburg, MT at the age of 78. He was preceded in death by his parents Ted and Hazel Harrel who moved to Polson, MT soon after Duane’s birth.
Duane was raised on a farm in Polson, MT where he learned his strong work ethic at a very young age. When he got older, he worked with his dad on many cherry orchards around Polson until 1963 when he joined the United States Navy and served for 4 years. After his service in the Navy, he was offered a job on Vashon Island, Washington with the National Guard where he worked on a Nike missile site.
In 1967, Duane married the love of his life, Shirley Jenkins, who he had known since the age of 13 and were a summertime couple. They made their home on Vashon Island for 8 years where they welcomed their daughter Marni in 1970 and their son Chris in 1971.
In 1974, the Nike site shut down and Duane and his family moved back to Montana where he joined the Montana National Guard and became a helicopter mechanic. While in the MT Guard, Duane became an Allied Shop Forman and was on the Montana Honor Guard for 25 years. He also served as the Maintenance Sargent of the Montana National Guard.
In 2005 Duane retired from the Guard and he enjoyed his free time with his wife Shirley golfing and helping build their dream home in Townsend, MT on the golf course. They enjoyed many camping trips and trips down to Arizona.
Duane was a loving husband, father, and grandpa, best known as “PA” to his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife Shirley of Helena, Marni Brownlow of Casper, Wyoming and her sons Tyler (Tinsley), and Jarod Brownlow, Chris Harrel (Stephanie) Kalispell, MT and their three children Ayden, Tenley and Brynley, Twin Sister Donna Boyles, Troy, NY and Georgine Hulme of Moses Lake, WA, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A graveside memorial will be held on June 18th at 2:00pm at Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery. A reception will follow at the VFW in East Helena, MT.
Honorary Pallbearers:
Jerry Park Tom Mahoney
Rod Culp Duane Wock
Vince Vogl David Goroski
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
2:00 PM
Tuesday June 18, 2024
Montana State Veteran Cemetery
3550 Heroes Rd
Helena, Fort Harrison,
Reception
Following the graveside memorial
Tuesday June 18, 2024
East Helena VFW
Main St
East Helena,
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Didem Park says
Uncle Duane, you are missed. Rest in peace… Someday we will meet again.
Scott and Didem Park
Bozeman, MT
Michael Taft says
Duane was a navy buddy of mine. We served on Guam. Upon our arrival to Guam, from six weeks of “C” school for EC121 aircraft, we were assigned to be Yeomen. This was because we could type. Duane was the CO’s Yeoman. Duane signed up, for the Navy when he was 17 on a program that released him from active duty one day prior to his twenty first birthday.