Memorial

Harriet A. Aarhus, 86 of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Hiawatha. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 16 at Cedar Hills Community Church, 6455 E. Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids at 11:00 am. A luncheon will be held immediately following funeral services with entombment at 2:30 pm at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. 
  
Harriet was born on July 27,1939, in Pipestone, MN to Harry and Helen (Jackson) Doty. Her parents moved seven times before Harriet entered school and finally settled in Cedar Rapids, where she met and married Gwyneth (Gwyn) Aarhus on August 13, 1961, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 
 
Harriet began her career as a Librarian’s Assistant at Kenwood Public Library. She then worked as a Clerk at S.S. Kresge’s, a Billing Machine Operator at Iowa National Mutual Insurance, an Office Clerk at Dial Finance and then as a Credit Correspondent at General Motors Acceptance Corp. (GMAC). For the next 10 years, Harriet worked in the home as “Mom” to their three children. In 1978, Harriet returned to GMAC as an Accounting Clerk, then worked as an Administrative Assistant at Esco Electric & Automation Systems and at Iowa Electric Light & Power. She finished are career after she earned an AA in Legal Assistance and worked as a Legal Secretary for U.S. Filter Consumer Products, Inc., Simmons & Perrine Law Firm, and Alliant Energy. 
 
Harriet was a faithful member of the Cedar Hills Community Church, where she also enjoyed volunteering. Harriet’s number one passion was sports, but specifically baseball. She loved watching the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, the Minnesota Twins and was a long-time season ticket holder to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Gwyn and Harriet loved to travel (mostly in their station wagon) and accomplished visiting all 50 U.S. states. Within those travels, they visited many baseball parks, amusement parks, museums, and anything else that was found along the way. Harriet also loved scrapbooking, spending time with her family and talking with everyone. There wasn’t a person she couldn’t talk to for hours. Harriet will forever be remembered as a wonderful and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin and friend whose memory will be cherished by all who knew and loved her. She will be missed greatly!
 
Harriet is survived by her children: Todd Aarhus of Ankeny, Ryan Aarhus of Robins, and Kylene (Chad) Dunham of Cedar Rapids; and a granddaughter, Ashleigh Dunham of Cedar Rapids. She is also survived by her brother, Bud (Beth) Doty of Tucson, AZ; brother-in-laws, DuWayne (Laura) Aarhus of Walker and Collin (Barbara) Aarhus of Center Point; and many nieces and nephews. 
 
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gwyneth (d. 2019), her parents and her parents-in-law. 
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Cedar Hills Community Church.