William Harten

WILLIAM "BILL" HARTEN 1921-2004 IDAHO FALLS, ID -- William "Bill" Harten, 83, of Idaho Falls, died June 30, 2004 in Bountiful, Utah, following a severe stroke. He was born March 15, 1921 in Pocatello, ID, to William Harten and Sarah McDonald Harten. Bill grew up in Pocatello and attended schools there, graduating from Pocatello High School in 1940. As high school bandmaster he composed the historic Indian fight song, "Oskeow-wow," still used today. He joined the Navy in 1940 and studied music at the U.S. Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C., graduating in April 1941. Originally assigned to the U.S.S. Arizona band, Bill was transferred to the U.S.S. West Virginia in September 1941. He was aboard ship on December 7 when Pearl Harbor was attacked and went down with his ship when it took nine enemy torpedo hits. One of the last to make it off the West Virginia, Bill managed a harrowing escape through a cargo hatch. Under enemy fire he jumped overboard, then swam around the burning battleships to Ford Island. After the attack he was reassigned to the Pacific Submarine Fleet based at Pearl Harbor. During WWII Bill was a Navy musician, singing and playing trumpet with the Navy band and on a regular US armed forces radio show heard throughout the Pacific. He toured with USO troupes with celebrities Bob Hope, Artie Shaw, and Claude Thornhill to entertain our men in arms throughout the Pacific Theater, and also served as a Navy Band Master. After WWII Bill was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he played "Taps" for hundreds of military burial services at Arlington Cemetery. He also played for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's funeral and the Inauguration of President Harry S. Truman. Bill married Jeane Lowe, his high school sweetheart from Pocatello, in Deland, Florida on March 21, 1945 while both still served in the Navy. Their marriage was solemnized September 8, 1950, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. After being honorably discharged as a Petty Officer Musician 1st Class, Bill returned to Pocatello with his family where he completed his Bachelor's degree in business at Idaho State College. During that time he worked as an insurance agent, a school bus driver, taught music at the Inkom elementary school, and directed his own professional dance band for many years. He was awarded a Presidential Commendation for his thesis on the causes for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bill was also part of the well-known "Trumpet Trio" along with his brother, Kenny Harten, and George Hart. They regularly played for countless local patriotic and civic events in Pocatello. After moving his family to Idaho Falls in 1954, Bill worked as an accountant for General Electric until 1958. Bill then worked for the Atomic Energy Commission (now the Department of Energy) until his retirement in 1986. He also had his own accounting tax business for over thirty years. He resided in Pocatello a total of 27 years and in Idaho Falls for 50 years. As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in various positions over the years. Bill especially enjoyed music, temple work, scouting, boating, and the outdoors and participated for many years as trumpeter with the Bonneville County Veterans of Foreign Wars Unit. He is survived by Jeane, his wife of 59 years, his daughter, Valerie (Doyle) Briggs, South Jordan, UT, a son, William Scott (Janice) Harten, Woods Cross, UT, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a brother, Kenneth (Lucille) Harten, Pocatello, ID. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, William Harten, and two half sisters, Eileen Price Pizer and Edna Price Johnson. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 10, 2004, at the Idaho Falls LDS 16th Ward, 855 South Boulevard, with Brian Burton, Counselor in the Idaho Falls LDS 16th Ward Bishopric, officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 7-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home (273 N. Ridge) and Saturday from 10:00-10:45 am prior to the services at the church. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 South 5th, Pocatello, under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. Military Rites will be conducted at the graveside by the Bonneville County Veterans Team.