Arthur M. Harkins

Arthur M. Harkins, 80, of Saint Michael, Minnesota, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, May 17, 2016. A futurist, innovative thinker, and educator who lived his life with the purpose to look over the horizon to find the best solutions for humankind. Memorial services will be held at 9:00 A.M., Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Arthur was born Sunday, March 8, 1936, in Olean, New York, the son of Arthur T. and Patricia (Krampf) Harkins. He lived in the Minneapolis area since the late 1960s moving from Kansas City, Missouri. Arthur graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1954. He went on to the University of Kansas to receive his bachelor of arts in sociology and psychology in 1959. He continued his education by attending the University of Massachusetts and received his master of sociology degree in 1963. He finished with his PhD in anthropology and sociology at the University of Kansas in 1968. Arthur was united in marriage with Nataliya Balabanova October 6, 2003, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his two sons, Christopher Harkins of Albany, New York, and Benton Harkins of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two brothers, Joseph Harkins and wife Judy of Lawrence, Kansas, and Daniel Harkins and wife Caroline of Newport Beach, California; three sisters, Mary Harkins of Worcester, Massachusetts, Susan Allen and husband Brad of Lawrence, Kansas, and Lisa Daniels and husband Tony of Greeley, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Arthur was a professor in future studies at the University of Minnesota for thirty-eight years. He was employed as an associate professor until his retirement in 2014. He served his country in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956 and the Air Force from 1959 to 1964 as an officer/pilot and first lieutenant. The family suggests memorial contributions to Minnesota Public Radio c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Arthur’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com