Brent Johnsen Harris

Eleven days before his 99th birthday and surrounded by family members, Brent Johnsen Harris passed away peacefully on June 8, 2026.

He was born June 19, 1927, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to B.L. Harris and Floy Margaret Johnsen, and attended schools there. After graduating from Idaho Falls High School class of 1945, he served in the U.S. Navy at the close of World War II. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Idaho with a business degree after working three summers in construction in Fairbanks, Alaska Territory. A year later, he began full-time missionary service in the Northwestern States Mission and was a counselor to the mission president. He then worked three years in Salt Lake City as an auditor with the Phillips Petroleum Company.

Brent married Emilie Corinne Anderson on August 16, 1956, in the Salt Lake City Temple. They lived for 41 years in Idaho Falls, where they raised their five children. They then moved to Provo, Utah, for 24 years, returning to Idaho Falls in 2021. Brent worked four years as a cost analyst with General Electric at the National Reactor Testing Station, and then 31 years in financial management in Idaho Falls with the U.S. Department of Energy (formerly AEC and ERDA), where he oversaw the classified cost accounting of the entire U.S. Navy's nuclear fleet.

As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brent served as quorum president of the Deacons, Teachers, Priests, Elders, and Seventies. He also was Stake Mission President, High Priest Group Leader, High Counselor, instructor, and Bishop of the Idaho Falls 34th Ward. After retirement, Brent and Emilie served 18-month missions with the Basque people of Northern Spain, the Māori people of New Zealand and the Cook Islands, and the Hispanic people of Mexico. They also served together as ordinance workers in the Provo Temple. Brent consistently spread the good news of the gospel in word and deed, regardless of the setting.

Brent enjoyed travel and adventure in the beauty of nature, which he instilled in his posterity. He was a good athlete, and played second base on the high school softball team coached by legendary "Cat" Thompson. In the AEC golf league, Brent captained a four-man team that repeatedly won the championship. At age 48, Brent and his older brother, Mackay played 72 holes of golf in one day at the Pinecrest Golf Course in Idaho Falls, walking all the way and scoring by tournament rules. At his peak in throwing horseshoes, more than half were ringers. Brent had great affection for evergreen trees, and he generously gave and planted countless trees for others. At age 74, he summited 11,101-foot Table Mountain in the Tetons one last time, along with four children and five grandchildren. Brent shot a hole-in-one at age 80, using a nine-iron on the downhill 198-yard seventh hole at Cascade Golf Course in Orem, Utah.

Brent's life was characterized by unfailing love of family and devotion to service. He was a living example of the highest standards in honesty, diligence, hard work, and detailed organization. Brent loved the common man and championed the underdog. He had a gift for seeing the best in people, and the transformative potential of simple things and kind gestures. He embodied an ethic of leaving things better than he found them. The world is a better place because of Brent Harris.

Brent is survived by his children, Jennifer Harris Savio of Mt. Pleasant, UT, Joseph Anderson (Marsha Danielson) Harris of Green River, WY, James Brent (Karen Crapo) Harris of Idaho Falls, ID, Jason Christian (Liesel Boundy) Harris-Boundy of San Francisco, CA, and Jared Douglas (Jodi Hill) Harris of Charlottesville, VA; 30 grandchildren; and 56 great-grandchildren. Brent's posterity including spouses now totals 115.

Brent was preceded in death by his dear wife, Emilie Anderson Harris; his parents, B.L. and Floy Harris; his brother, Mackay Harris; his sister, Martine Putnam; his half-brothers, Lynn and Lyle Harris; his half-sister, Lucille Jensen; and his grandson, Henry Brent Harris.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Father's Day, Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The family will visit with friends from 1:00-1:45 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home prior to the service. A live broadcast of the service will be available here. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Rexburg Cemetery.

The Harris family deeply appreciates the services of Fairwinds-Sand Creek Senior Living, Aspen Home Health & Hospice, Alliance PCS, Clover Caregivers, the Sutter Ward, and Wood Funeral Home.

Condolences can be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.