Harriet Payne, of Montevideo, died Thursday, November 17, 2011 as the result of an automobile accident at the age of 69. Memorial services will be conducted on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 220 South 13th Street, in Montevideo with Rev. Tim Ehling officiating. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery in Grace Township. Visitation with the family will be Monday from 5 - 7 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Harriet Joan (Vaala) was born on April 25, 1942 in Madison, MN to Arthur and Mildred (Moen) Vaala. She was baptized and confirmed at Borgund Lutheran Church in rural Madison, MN and in 1960 graduated from the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, MN. On September 30, 1961, she was united in marriage to Thomas Payne at Borgund Lutheran Church. They lived and farmed in Grace Township for forty years before moving into Montevideo ten years ago. On September 30th of this year they celebrated fifty years of marriage. She was a long-time and very active member of Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church in Grace Township and was currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo. She was a member of the Flying Geese Quilting Club, MN Valley Community Concert Association Board of Directors, Chippewa Valley Cruisers Car Club, was a 4-H leader and fair judge, volunteered at Luther Haven and was involved in planning several special events, and was involved in Ag in the Classroom and the Women's Activity Building at the Chippewa Co. Fair. She was also a member of the Flying Farmers, serving as a chapter officer and queen, and flew many flights as co-pilot. Harriet and Tom loved to travel, whether it was by private aircraft, on a bus tour, or flying overseas. She also enjoyed sewing (especially jackets and accessories), golfing, bowling, yoga, walking, canning, baking (especially lefsa, flatbread and making birthday cakes), giving rides to those who needed them and making field and sports lunches. Her interests also included her enjoyment of music, gardening and making preserves, dancing at the Lakeside Dance Club, and doing crossword and word seek puzzles. She was especially interested in anything her grandchildren were involved in and spending as much time as possible with them. She is survived by her husband, Tom; three children: Chad (Lynne) Payne of DeGraff, MN, Byron (Jill) Payne of Orono, MN, and Jan (fiance Jess Melo) Payne of Montevideo, MN; eight grandchildren: Jenna, Brennan, Devon, Tatum, Tommy, Gavin, Samantha, and Allie; one brother, Ernest (Margaret) Vaala of Dresser, WI; as well as by a number of nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents: Art and Mildred Vaala.