Deacon was cremated at his request and inurnment will be in Howell Cemetery near Miller.
He died May 1, 2013, at Miller Prairie Good Samaritan Center.
Edward "Deacon," son of George and Bessie (Snyder) Hargens, was born Dec. 13, 1922, near St. Lawrence. He was raised on a farm in Hand County and attended Hand County Schools.
Deacon was united in marriage to Charleen Pearson of Miller on Dec. 29, 1944, in the Lutheran Parsonage in Harold. They farmed together on a farm they purchased near Orient in 1955. Along with farming, Deacon was a meat cutter, school bus driver and custodian at Orient Public School. Deacon and Charleen resided on their farm until January 2010, when they moved to Aberdeen.
He dearly loved to fish and hunt throughout his lifetime. Deacon entered Miller Prairie Good Samaritan Center in July 2012. Deacon and Charleen were lifetime members of Orient Lutheran Church, until they moved to Aberdeen, where they became members of Zion Lutheran Church. Charleen will continue to reside in Aberdeen.
Deacon is survived by his wife, Charleen; children: Edward J. (Peggy Wilson) Hargens Jr. of Mina; Linda (Linton) Swenson of Fayetteville, Ark.; Diane (Chuck) Sanger of Mobridge; Carol (Richard) Baloun of Highmore; and Dodie Geffre of Aberdeen; sister, Hazel Clement; five brothers: Lester (Carolyn), Marvin (Donna), Charles (Joyce), Richard (Delores) and Raymond (Linda); sister-in-law, Lois Hargens; brother-in-law, Herb Stender; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, George; two sisters: Mabel Holt and Eileen Stender; and one grandson, Scott Swenson.
The organist will be Janice Kost and there will be special music by Andrea and Kristin Hargens.
The family prefers memorials to Zion Lutheran Church in Aberdeen.
Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen has been entrusted with arrangements.
carlsenfh.com