Rapid City – Melvin "Mick" Harris, 76, died Friday, May 27, 2022 at his residence.

Mick Harris born Melvin H. Harris passed Friday in the beautiful home he designed and built himself onto his Heavenly Father's home which was built before time. He died at the youthful age of 76, one day short of his 77th birthday. Mick was born in Winner, SD to Annie Irene Boerner and grew up surrounded by loving aunts and grandparents. His stepfather, James W. Vanneman came into his life when he was 7 years old and helped form the hard-working and determined man that he was. He truly valued good work ethic and he always had a clear vision of what he wanted and how to achieve his goals. Mick wanted to be a veterinarian as a young man but by the time he started college he switched to Pharmacy because that was "the highest paid professional program that SDSU had to offer." He was a phenomenal pharmacist who enjoyed his work. He would enlighten upcoming pharmacy students about the many original pharmacy duties and had several now vintage tools to prove it. He would retire from his career after 50 years in retail, hospital, nursing home and government service in the ARMY and Indian Health Service. He worked his way through college and early years of becoming a pharmacist while at the same time developing life-long friendships and skills as an electrician, plumber, and carpenter. He used these skills throughout his life particularly after retirement as the family and neighborhood handyman.

Mick met his late wife Barbara Jean Frey in High School, they married August 27, 1965. In 1970 while completing his pharmaceutical internship in Dubuque, IA, they had their only daughter, Kristine. After graduating as a Registered Pharmacist, they moved to Ft. Gordon, GA to serve his 2-year ROTC commitment to the U.S. ARMY as a 2nd LT. On completion of his tour, he and Barb moved to Waverly, IA where they lived for 17 years. The family moved back to South Dakota in 1991 to join a Rapid City pharmacy business with his brother W.J. Vanneman. Rapid City became his final home. Mick was definitely a homebody; he designed and built their home working every night after working as a pharmacist all day. It took about 10 years; he was nearly finished before his wife of 33 years passed away suddenly from a cardiac arrest in 1998.

In 2001 he was invited to go fishing by a Family Nurse Practitioner by the name of Evalina Murphy who was also working at the Sioux San IHS at the same time. This invitation led to a proposal in 2003 which began a lovely & wildly humor filled marriage of almost 19 years.

In much later years, Mick was introduced to Melvin "Mickey" Harris, his deceased biological father's Jewish family through his daughter, Kristine's investigation. In 2017 he met his two half-sisters Ellen Eisinberg and Joan Harris. After this announcement to his close friends, he became affectionately known as Rabbi Mick.

Mick was preceded in death by his mother Annie Irene Vanneman, stepfather, James Vanneman, two half-sisters, Gloria Ann and Annie Vanneman, his late wife, Barb Harris, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He leaves behind to keep the memories alive, wife "and care-taker", Evalina Murphy Harris, daughter Kristine (Rick) Matassa, stepdaughter Anna Murphy, step-granddaughter, Kyrie Elieson Murphy, stepson Shane (Angelia) Murphy, step-grandson Noah Murphy, step-granddaughter Payton (Roger) Felix and 3 great-grandkids, Michael, William & Emmeline. Brother W.J. (Sandy) Vanneman, Sister Carol (Scott) Maki. Family-in-law, Bernice & David Bauld, Janet & Ted Braun, many nephews, and nieces. He once described his early life as being a loner and by the end of his life, he was humbled by the many, many friends who call him brother and best friend. You know who you are.

Funeral services will be 11 AM at the Osheim-Schmidt Funeral Home, Monday, June 13th followed by Military Honors at the Black Hills National Cemetery at 1 pm.

Lunch will be served at the Masonic Hall, 618 Kansas City St. Rapid City.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to the Rockerville Grace Bible Church, Arlin Stratmeyer, Pastor, 13481 Stratmeyer Court, Rockerville, SD 57702.

Arrangements with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.