Louis Alexander Harris

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Louis Alexander Harris on August 7, 2026, at the age of 99.

Preceded in death by father, Allan Beck Harris, mother Margaret Lovejoy and brother, Allan Alexander Harris. He is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Carol Prescott Harris and children, John Beck Harris (Geri Vigil Harris), Ann Harris McMillan (Douglas D. McMillan) and Allan Alexander Harris (Norie Harris), grandchildren James, Marley (Fernando Gonzalez), Spencer (Breanna Herzog McMillan), Evan McMillan and Marilyn Harris, great grandchildren Maeve, Louis, Malin and June McMillan and Faye and Georgie Gonzalez.

Lou was born April 16th, 1927 in Rochelle, Illinois. Upon the tragic death of his father in 1932, Lou’s mother moved the young boys to California where she pursued a career in real estate. In 1944 the family moved back to Chestertown, Maryland where Lou finished his high school years at The Hill School in Pottstown, PA.

A gifted and conscientious student, Lou graduated Cum Laude from Dartmouth College in 1949. Outside the classroom, he covered sports for the college student paper, and as a stringer reported on Dartmouth for the Manchester Union, The Evening Leader, and the New Hampshire Sunday News.

In 1952, Lou graduated with honors from Stanford Law School. Enlisting shortly thereafter in the Air Force, Lou began dating Carol and they married in August of ‘53. Together they moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, and later Layton, Utah, where Lou served two years of active duty in the Judge Advocate General’s Corp. Upon completion of his Air Force tour in 1956, Lou began his legal career with Lewis, Grant, and Davis in Denver, CO. A fascination with trains and transportation law eventually brought him to the Northern Pacific Railway in St. Paul, Minnesota. Settling in North Oaks, Lou and Carol raised their three children and cultivated a network of many lifelong friends, sharing lively times infused with clever humor, raucous laughter, ski adventures, tennis tournaments, and an annual production of the Northern Ramsey County Play Group followed by holiday candlelight dinners.

In 1981 the merger of Northern Pacific Railway and the Great Northern Railroad took Lou to Seattle, Washington, where he and Carol lived on Bainbridge Island, Washington for 15 years. In 1983 Lou worked in private practice for the law firm of Bogle and Gates in Seattle and upon his return to St. Paul, Primus Law Office. He was a member of the Alaska, California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Washington Bar Associations.

In addition to his practice as a well-regarded expert in transportation law, Lou authored and presented many legal papers. He read voraciously, amassing an impressive library embodying a lifetime of varied interest in legal issues, government, history, baseball, and the rail industry.

In retirement, Lou and Carol split their time between Steamboat Springs, CO and the familiar community of White Bear Lake and North Oaks. Lou was a devoted and loving father and grandfather. He and Carol rarely missed a grandchild’s school event, game, or ceremony.

Lou served his community in a variety of capacities. As a member of the vestry, he generously supported St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church in White Bear Lake, MN as well as St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Steamboat Springs, CO. Lou was a founding member of the North Oaks Men’s Book Club and its long-serving secretary until age 96. He held the club’s accomplished membership in high esteem; its book selections and meetings were a source of connection and intellectual stimulation that Lou valued highly.

Always the gentleman, friends and family recall Lou’s endearing sense of humor, respect and thoughtfulness for others, and incredible intellect and recall; his legacy of kindness will be forever cherished. May he rest in peace knowing that he touched the lives of many and left a lasting impact on all who had the pleasure and gift of knowing him.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Louis Alexander Harris will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 26, 2026, at St. John in the Wilderness, 2175 1st Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorials be made to St. John in the Wilderness in memory of Louis A. Harris.

Funeral services are entrusted to O'Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hudson. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-386-3725.