Harris Kenneth Borslien, age 88, of Owen, died Thursday, May 22, 2025 at Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center in Owen. A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31 at Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen, with Chaplain Jamie S. Brei officiating. A Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Military Honors provided by Owen American Legion Post #123, Owen-Withee Vets Club, Thorp VFW Post #9057 and Lublin American Legion Post #547. Inurnment with family will occur at a later date.
Harris Kenneth Borslien was born on May 21, 1937 in Godfrey Township, Minnesota, the son of Melvin and Julia (Haugen) Borslien. He graduated from Erskine High School in 1955. For 42 years, he was a signal maintainer for the Soo Line Railroad and Canadian Pacific Railway.
In 1958, he met and married Sandra (Olson) Borslien, and they resided in Superior, Wisconsin.
He was drafted in 1960 into the United States Army during the Viet Nam War as a Specialist E-4 Missile Silo Guard in various states until he fulfilled his service in 1962.
In 1968, Harris and Sandra bought a polled Hereford ranch in Owen. There, they raised four children, while Harris also worked full-time for the railroad for 19 years.
They moved to Buffalo Lake, Minnesota and lived there for a short duration. In 1991, they moved to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. During that time, they also lived for several months each year in Mesa, Arizona. Harris had a very successful handyman business at the Tower Point Resort. When Sandra passed in 1999, Harris continued to travel between Wisconsin and Arizona until his health began to fail and he sold the house and trailer.
He moved to Withee, Wisconsin early in 2025 to be near family and long-time friends. After a falling injury, he was hospitalized and quickly moved into hospice care at Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center.
In addition to farming, Harris had many interests, such as woodworking, bowling, and softball. He enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends.
He is survived by two sons: Kevin Borslien and Shawn Borslien, both of Withee; and two daughters: Sharine Borslien (Ron Hagadone) of Atascadero, California; and Susan (Jesse) Nelson of Withee; two sisters: Melvina (Borslien) Tranby of Moorhead, Minnesota; and Betty (Borslien) Koelln of Dent, Minnesota; four grandchildren: Tanya, Kyle, Hunter, and Ethan Borslien; two great-grandchildren: Willow and Elodie; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother John (Al) Haugen and sister Edna (Borslien) Hunnicutt.
In lieu of flowers, send Memorials to the Owen-Withee Vets Club in Owen, Wisconsin.
Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.com.
