Harold Leroy Wenaas

Dr. Harold Wenaas, 88, passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2017. A funeral service will be Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Harold was born in 1929 in Mayville, North Dakota to Henry and Hannah Wenaas. He was active in the Boy Scouts as a young boy and obtained the Eagle Scout award. As a teenager, he became interested in music and and purchased his own piano, paying for his own music lessons. He graduated from Mayville High School in 1948 where he lettered in three sports. In 1951, he married Leona Hanson and then was drafted into the U.S. Army. After his discharge, he completed his bachelor’s degree in 1954 at Mayville State. He taught music in Hope and Rolla, ND, and was business manager and registrar at the North Dakota School of Forestry in Bottineau, ND. He directed many outstanding musical groups throughout his teaching career. In 1961, after receiving his M.A. in accounting and doctorate in education from University of North Dakota (Grand Forks), he accepted a position as Assistant Superintendent before becoming Superintendent of Schools in 1966. He served as Superintendent for the next 18 years, until retiring from this position in 1984. During his tenure, 13 schools were built and 5 schools were closed. He established the Special Education Program, the Indian Education Program and a post-secondary program that later became the Montana State University system in Great Falls. In 1984, Harold and Leona moved back to North Dakota, as Harold became an accounting professor at Mayville State University, finally retiring in 1991. Harold Wenaas was a true public servant and civic leader. He served as President of the Montana Boy Scouts of America Council, receiving the Silver Beaver and Distinguished Eagle scouting awards. He also served on the Board of Directors for several community organizations. A gentle and kind man, he loved worshipping the Lord and singing hymns. He was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church for 56 years. He enjoyed telling stories and was known to captivate others with his intellect and quick wit. He had a gift with people and never met a stranger. In his retirement, he researched, wrote and published in 1996 a biographical novel about his grandfather, entitled Stener: The Sheriff from Telemark. An avid wood carver, he carved and painted dozens of intricate wood figurines during his retirement years. He leaves his wife of 66 years, Leona; three children, Susan Adams and Mark (Jan) Wenaas of Great Falls and Holly (John) Rohrbach of Carmel, Indiana; grandchildren Nathan Wenaas, Sara(Duane) Sanborn, Lee (Nicole) Dresch, Joseph (Jeannie)Dresch, Lisa(Brad) Hass, Jodi Dresch, Hannah(Don) Stoelting, Jennipher(Lyon) Doyle, Amy (Kendal) Seder, and Haley, Kalkidan, Tarike, and Heidi Rohrbach; and numerous great-grandchildren. He also leaves a sister Helen Wenaas of Mayville, ND.