Harriet L. Cossentine

Harriet Louise Cossentine was born in St Paul, MN on October 15, 1926, the third child of Harry & Beulah Swanson. She, along with her siblings Gertrude, Vernon and Melvin, spent their early years in a comfortable little home on Galtier Street. The happy days of innocence were cut short when their dad, a street car conductor, died from an infection in August 1933. Now aware that life was fragile, they continued on in that home, going to school and attending the fellowship meetings, until their mother died from pneumonia in November 1934. Harriet was eight years old, and her siblings were ages 12, 10, and 6.

The church took responsibility for placing Harriet and her siblings in homes, and Harriet was adopted by Walter and Ella Cossentine of Minneapolis, MN. She would speak of the strangeness of coming to a home where there were no other children. She found comfort in their big German shepherd, Duke, when she was sorely missing her birth parents and siblings. As a result, Harriet never was afraid of big dogs; she only would remember Duke soaking up her tears in his fur.

Her new parents provided her with a very comfortable life, and she never forgot that. However, the best gift they gave her was a solid connection in her Christian fellowship. This would be the most profound influence in her life.

Harriet graduated from Marshall High School in Minneapolis in 1944. She attended the University of Minnesota, and received her bachelor’s degree in education in 1948. She taught high school math for three years at Benson MN and one year at Red Wing MN.

In 1952, she left her career to follow the call into her true life’s work: preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. She ministered in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. One cannot begin to measure her influence as she presented the truths of Jesus in a very practical way. The story of her own adoption gave her a very intimate insight into the spiritual adoption into the family of Christ. She continued true to her calling her entire life, even during the seven year period in which she cared for her father in his home. She would tell of being reminded that the Cossentines took her in when she needed them, and now it was her turn to pay back their love and care. After Mr. Cossentine died, she again sold all and followed the call back into the work that was her life.

After moving to an independent living apartment at age 90, she retained a very keen interest in her coworkers’ activities. She was a friend to young and old.

When life became too fragile to continue to care for herself independently, Harriet accepted help with grace and humor. She truly was “our queen”. As the end of life approached, she joyfully embraced the thought of the angels coming for her soul.

She was preceded in death by her biological parents and siblings mentioned above, and her adoptive parents.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews:  Carol (Steve) Young of Omaha, NE, Howard Jensen of Alliance, NE, Wayne (Deb) Jensen of Sterling, CO, Kathryn Forsland of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Judy Burnam of Phoenix, AZ, Clayton Swanson of Phoenix, AZ, and Cathy Swanson of Aurora, IL and also cousins from both the Swanson and Cossentine relationships.

Funeral service 10:30 AM Friday, April 21 at Delta Hotels by Marriot Minneapolis Northeast, 1330 Industrial Blvd NE, Minneapolis. A call in number is available, 657-390-4297, for those unable to attend. Visitation at the Hotel from 9:30 - 10:30 AM Friday 4/21. Private interment Roselawn Cemetery.