Harriet Pauline King

Harriet Pauline was born March 30, 1933, in Raymond, Washington to Anna and Harry Haagensen. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, Friday, March 29, 2024, just one day before her 91st birthday. Her Catholic faith was very important to her, and she is now with her parents in Heaven.

After High School, she completed an associate degree in dental hygiene and worked for several years as a dental hygienist before her children were born. In 1959, she met Thomas King Jr., who was the love of her life. They were married February 19, 1960, in Seattle, Washington. Tom was from the Midwest—they relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where many of his relatives resided.

Harriet worked as a hygienist part time for several years in Kalamazoo. Her main focus was raising her family. She enjoyed bowling, exercising, and the game of bridge. She and her family spent most holidays at Duck Lake in Albion with Tom's extended family. She was an excellent cook and entertainer, welcoming all that she knew. She loved to prepare Italian food from scratch, and she was known for making crostini as an appetizer to be enjoyed with Schuler's cheese. Her friends frequently requested this wonderful appetizer.

In the fall of 1969, she began work on another associate degree as an executive secretary at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan. At the time, Tom was working for the Kellogg Company in quality control. Upon completion of this degree, she was quickly hired as an administrative assistant at the Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek. She was most proud of this accomplishment.

In 1973, Tom was transferred to Omaha, Nebraska to head up quality assurance at the Kellogg plant. Tom, Harriet, and son Troy headed to Omaha. Daughter Sharon had just graduated from college, so she stayed behind to look for a teaching job. Tom and Harriet spent fifty years in Omaha with Troy and his wife Sandy and their family. She quickly secured a job with Owens Corning as an office manager. She enjoyed golfing, entertaining, and nurturing plants. She was most proud of the beautiful Christmas Cactus that thrived under her care.

Harriet and Tom enjoyed traveling in their later years. They visited Egypt and traveled to Italy several times, as that was where her mother's family was from. She was very organized but also loved to have fun. At many family weddings and celebrations, she was the last person to leave the dance floor.

Last May, she and Tom decided to relocate to Kalamazoo after fifty years. They resided at the Storypoint Independent Living facility near Sharon, Mike and their family. Her health was beginning to decline, yet she still enjoyed being with the Kalamazoo family and making new friends at Storypoint.

She is survived by Tom, her husband of 64 years; her brother, Gary Udd (Susan), and his extended family; daughter, Sharon (Mike) Seelye; son, Troy (Sandy); grandchildren: Alex, Sean (Holly), and Jordan King, Mickey (Lindsey) Seelye, Mauri (Chad) VanDenBerg and Michelle (Ben) Drucker; great-grandchildren: Brynn, Eddie and Breslin King, Parker, Grace and Chloe VanDenBerg, Janelle, Sabrina and Gabriella Drucker, along with Lexy and Drake Seelye. She is also survived by special friends: Karen and Dave Lagerstrom, Mike and Pam Ostransky and Judy Ashmore.

A short Catholic Service will be held at Langeland Funeral Home on April 9, 2024 at 11:00am at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial and Cremation Services, 3926 S 9^th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. A luncheon will immediately follow at the funeral home.

To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family visit https://www.langelands.com.