Harvey Niemi

HARVEY WALTER NIEMI Longtime Great Falls educator Harvey (Hawn) Niemi passed away from natural causes at Benefis Hospital on September 9, surrounded by dear friends who loved him as family. Harvey was born on May 28, 1942, in Bismarck, ND to William Jacob and Emma Marie Niemi. His early years were spent on the family farm near Wing, ND, where he attended a one-room school house through grade 8. He graduated high school from Bismarck High School. He also graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Hawn taught at Great Falls High for 25 years. He later was a moving force in beginning the education program at the Great Falls Prelease Center where he served as the Director of Education until his retirement in 2013. For several years he was a member of the Lewis and Clark Honor Guard, where he delighted in acting as the Medicine Man. Harvey is survived by brothers Harley Niemi of Virginia and Harold Niemi of Colorado, and by his partner Robert Trent of Great Falls. There is no service planned at this time. Donations are suggested to the Paris Gibson Museum of Art.