Harlan was born February 11, 1923 in Red Lake to Nancy and Joseph Lussier of Redby. He attended school in Red Lake and entered the United States Army in 1940. He served in Pacific Theater during WWII, and in Hawaii. He was honorably discharged in 1944. He liked to travel and experience life, and shared many stories of his experiences with family and friends. He was attuned to nature, preferring to be outdoors and loved to garden. He was an avid reader and kept up with current events and loved to read a variety of novels, with a fondness for historical non-fiction. He enjoyed spending time visiting family and friends and it was not uncommon for him to drop in for a visit. He worked a variety of jobs throughout his life and also enjoyed working as a foster grandparent in the Minneapolis and Bemidji schools. He met Barbara Ahlberg in Bemidji, they married and were together for 25 years. They spent their time between the cities and the cabin up north, and in their recent years, wintered in Phoenix.

He is survived by his wife, sisters, Anna Schoenborn of Bemidji, Joan Donnell of Bemidji, Virginia Perkins of Red Lake, Ramona Barrett of Redby, Barbara (Francis) Brun of Red Lake and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents, a sister, Gertrude Beaulieu, brothers, Kenneth Lawrence, Paul Lussier, William Lussier, Donald Lussier and Calvin Lussier.