Bruce K. Harris, 96, of Brookings, formerly of Clear Lake, passed away Thursday, March 4, 2021, at the Brookings Hospital. Private family services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 8, and will be livestreamed through the Rude’s Funeral Home Facebook page.

Bruce Kent Harris was born on March 12, 1924, to Dr. Herschel and Alice (Jones) Harris in Wilmot, SD. He attended Wilmot School, and upon his graduation, he attended North Dakota State University for one year before being drafted into the service. Bruce joined the Navy as a Pharmacist’s Mate 3rd Class in 1943. He worked in Naval hospitals in New Guinea and the Philippines. While there, he found an interest in the beautiful butterflies. He mounted and sent many home to his mother. After serving in the Navy for 32 months, 21 overseas, he was honorably discharged in March of 1946.

Bruce attended Quinney College of Natural Resources in Logan, Utah, earning a degree in biology and botany. He worked in various positions for Game and Fish Departments in California, New Mexico and South Dakota. He preferred the title of Conservation Officer. All of his time outside allowed him to pursue a lifelong hobby of bird watching. He could identify many birds just by their calls.

He was a member of the South Dakota Ornithologists Union. Many of his bird lists are recorded in the book “The Birds of South Dakota.” Bruce loved reading, tennis, fishing, hunting, bird watching and spending time at the cottage on Big Stone Lake.

Bruce married Lavina Hove on March 31, 1956, in Newhall, CA. They had three children, Gordon, Mark and Janet.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lavina; son, Mark Harris; parents, Herschel and Alice Harris; his siblings, Mary Margaret (Don) Smith, Gwynethe (Buff) Thompson, Florence (Larry) Tenney, Herschel Craig Harris, Ruth Harris, Hugh Harris and brother-in-law, Don Bassett.

Bruce is survived by his two children, Gordon (Judy) Harris of Woodsville, NH, and Janet (Alan) Clark of Aurora, SD; grandchildren, Shelly Bolish, Nicholaus Harris (Aly Mielke), Christopher Harris (Tina Traczke), Leslie Earl Handley, Anthony Harris, Kyla Clark (Brian Hauger) and Cody (Ashley) Clark; 11 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Earl and Mary Hove and Shirley Bassett; daughter-in-law, Lynn Harris; and many nieces and nephews.

Condolences can be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.