Welcome to Kenmare

Feature Stories (Vol. 109 No. 51--12/19/2007)

McLarnon liked his work and has enjoyed his 100 years of life

By Caroline Downs

Harold "Mac" McLarnon is counting the days until his next birthday.

That’s twenty-six days now until January 14, 2008, when he hits the century mark. "I’m kind of proud to think I’ve stuck it out for almost a hundred years," he said. His eyes twinkled with humor and a zest for life, characteristics that have served him well through his years.

McLarnon was born to George and Anna Bell McLarnon in Marysville, Missouri, a small community in the northwest corner of the state. In 1913, the family, including McLarnon and his younger brother, relocated to the Terry, Montana, area where George took advantage of the Homestead Act.

"I can remember very clearly riding in the bobsled, bedded down with straw," said McLarnon. "The vehicle was towed by a team of horses."

The McLarnons lived in a 20’ by 20’ log cabin and the boys attended classes at a country school two and a half miles away. "Occasionally we’d catch a ride with the teacher," McLarnon said. He smiled at the quick thinking of his younger self.

Growing up in electric industry
The plan to farm proved unsuccessful for George, and the family moved into town. "Dad had to go get a job," recalled McLarnon. He and his siblings enrolled in the town’s school then, but McLarnon left in 1922 after finishing eighth grade to take a job with Terry Light & Power, owned and operated by A. J. Ensteness.

That decision set a path for his life. McLarnon stayed with the company after it was sold and developed as Montana-Dakota Utilities. He retired in 1973.

He spent his early days with Terry L&P performing the manual labor to make electricity possible. "My first job consisted of reading meters, climbing poles and setting electrical extensions to serve new customers," he said.

Terry L&P provided service to the community with a 50 hp diesel Fairbanks motor. Light was available to homes and businesses every day for specified hours. "Later, as the country developed, [families] bought washing machines," he said. "Then, we had to run power until 11 pm on Mondays so mothers could do the laundry!"

Several independent, small town electricity operations sold to the larger business, and MDU grew from those companies in Sidney, Fairview, Glendive and Scobey, as well as Terry. "Ultimately, we were all tied together by high lines that provided 24-hour service in those areas," McLarnon said.

His duties expanded to include digging holes, setting poles and stringing line to extend the enhanced service to new customers. "We often did the wiring of the building to accommodate the electricity," he said.

He laughed as he compared his nine co-workers in the early days to the more than 10,000 employees who work for MDU now. As one of those first workers, he had opportunities to advance in the company. "I worked as a grunt and retired as a division manager," he said.

Transferred around
McLarnon married Lorraine Plath in 1927. The couple lived in Terry where their children Harold and Jean were born.

The family relocated according to the company’s plans, however, as McLarnon’s tenure included a stint in Kenmare beginning in 1937 as chief accountant, then a move to Wolf Point, MT in 1942 and another to Rapid City, SD, in 1947. Bismarck became home in 1952, followed by a return to Kenmare in 1955.

McLarnon learned and honed bookkeeping skills along the way and worked in the accounting department. "It was knowledge gained through home study courses, along with the work," he said. "The company funded those courses. [That policy] is still in effect."

Lorraine passed away following the couple’s 1955 move to Kenmare. In 1960, McLarnon married Evelyn Larson, and the couple transferred to Mobridge, SD, until 1971 when McLarnon started his third run in Kenmare. By then, son Harold was a civilian mechanical engineer working on satellites and daughter Jean Murray was living in Kenmare. Evelyn passed away in 1982.

McLarnon never considered exchanging his career with MDU for another company. "We employees considered ourselves a family," he said. "We all worked together and developed something that would be useful. There’s something about it...I can’t explain it."

Then he grinned again. "Besides, back in those days, if you got a good job, you stuck with it!" he said.

Passion for golf
Following his retirement, McLarnon transformed his dedication to work into a passion for golf. "I was a weekender until the last thirty years," he said. "Then I played golf, golf, golf and loved it!"

He worked as a golf cart salesman for a friend in Stanley and devoted time to maintenance duties at the Kenmare Country Club. He also managed to notch five holes-in-one during his lifetime.

From the recliner in his apartment at the Baptist Home Assisted Living Unit, he nodded in the direction of Kenmare’s course. "I golfed out here until two years ago," he said. "There’s not many around as nice as the Kenmare Country Club. I was there every day when I could."

He has also been known to putt an occasional ball down the hallways of the Baptist Home.

Stays current with company
Even though he’s been retired 34 years, McLarnon maintains a keen interest in MDU’s progress. He continues to read the company’s publications to stay current on their status and innovations, and what he reads fascinates him.

"In your lifetime, you probably won’t even see any high line poles," he said. "Electricity could be transmitted similar to what we consider a microwave. And the energy will be furnished by the sun or some other source."

McLarnon remains modest about his own contributions to the company. He prefers to credit his customers and co-workers with his success. "Much, if not all of this career, is the result of having worked with great people such as now populate the Dakotas and the Midwest," he said.

He also spoke humbly about facing his 100th birthday. "I enjoyed life and I liked my work," he said, then laughed. "And that’s true of a lot of people who are still old out there!"

No major party plans are on McLarnon’s agenda. "I would like to just sit here," he said, smiling as he leaned back in his recliner. "I just don’t have the wind like I used to."

He referred to his constant companion, an oxygen tank. "Between me and him, we get along pretty good," he said, then chuckled.

Mail, however, is a welcome part of McLarnon’s upcoming milestone. Birthday greetings can be sent to Harold McLarnon, P.O. Box 787, Kenmare, ND 58746.