Harley "Curley" McLain

Harley "Curley" McLain, 88, of Hatton, ND passed away Monday, December 29, 2014 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. A memorial service will be held Friday, January 2, 2015 at 2:00pm at the Hatton High School Gym in Hatton. A visitation will be held Thursday, January 1, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00pm with a 7:00pm prayer service at St. John Lutheran Church in Hatton.

Harley was born June 2, 1926 in Jamestown, ND to Harley W. and Almeda (Wittig) McLain. He grew up in Eckelson, ND and graduated from Mayville High School in Mayville, ND. In 1944, they won the state basketball championship. After high school, Curley attended Mayville State until being drafted. He was a sergeant in the United States Army during Korea. After the service, Curley returned to Mayville State to finish college. In 1947, he married Barbara Gulbranson in Mayville. Barbara passed away in 2004. Curley and Barbara moved to Hatton, where Curley taught math for a short time before becoming principal. He coached basketball, baseball, track and field, and 6-man football. Curley became the superintendent after being principal for a few years. He served 37 years at the Hatton School before retiring in 1987. After retirement, Curley became mayor of Hatton from 1990-2006. In 2006, Curley married Joy Ust at St. John Lutheran Church in Hatton. He also drove school bus for over 15 years. Curley enjoyed being a member of the Hatton Masons, Hatton American Legion, Red River Conference Athletic Board, 1990 Honorary Lifetime Member of the Association of High School Administrators, Honorary Lifetime Member of FBLA, Alumni Board Member of Mayville State University, a member of MAD MEN (Make A Difference Men), treasurer of the Hatton Community Club, and a member and on the board of the North Dakota High School Activities Association. He was also inducted into the Mayville State University Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame and the Mayville State University Coaches Hall of Fame. Some of Curley's hobbies include playing cards, gardening, sports, golfing, and watching his kids and grandkids's activities.

Survivors include his wife, Joy, Hatton, ND; Children: Ron (Nancy) McLain, Prior Lake, MN; Jon McLain, Prior Lake, MN and Maui, HI; Jerry (Tina) McLain, Chadron, NE; Mark (Becky) McLain, Bloomington, MN; Holly (Chris) Tinjum, Grand Forks, ND; Melanie Ust, Henderson, NV; Grandchildren: Casey (Brianna) McLain, Lindsay (Tommy) Anderson, Nathan (Annalise) McLain, Chelsea (Steve) Ribnick, Megan McLain, Aubrey McLain, Cassandra McLain, Josh McLain, Joe McLain, Jake McLain, Jonn McLain, Jamie McLain, Jazzy McLain, Shelby Curtis, Erika Tinjum, Dylan Tinjum, Tyler Tinjum, Donita Turner, Dom Turner; Curley is also survived by seven great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Barbara, brothers, Lloyd and Bernard "Bud" and sister Verla Ukestad.