Michael David Harding, 68, of Mayetta, KS, passed away Saturday, March 27, 2021 after a courageous battle with Langerhans cell histiocytic sarcoma cancer. He was born August 4, 1952, the son of James A. and Dorothy (Gowan) Harding.

Michael graduated from Hoyt High School in 1970 and North Central Kansas Vo-Tech in 1973. He began work with Santa Fe Railroad in 1974 as a Carman. He also worked as a draftsman and supervisor before moving to the Business Car Department in 1991. He was general foreman of Business Cars for 20 years, retiring in 2011.

He married Betty Bourbon on September 6, 1975 in Jewell, KS. They celebrated over 45 ½ years of marriage on their farm in Mayetta, KS.

Michael is survived by: his wife Betty, of the home; his son, Shawn Michael Harding, wife Lea and their two kids Drake and Lauryn of Norton, KS; his daughter, Maren Nicole Coligan, her husband James and their two kids Elizabeth and Rebecca of Houston, TX; special “adopted” children Mathis Schmidt and Suzanna Sanchez; his brother, James Neil Harding (Mary Lou) of Mayetta, KS. his sisters, Rowena McCauley (Jim) of Mayetta, KS and Lequetta LeJuene (Tim) of McKinney, TX.

 A Memorial Service will be 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Michael Harding Memorial Fund to be designated to KQNK Radio in Norton, Kansas for video streaming equipment.  To leave a special message for the family, visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com