Harry R. Truman ( October 30 , 1896 – May 18 , 1980 ) was a resident of the U.S. state of Washington who lived near Mount St. Helens . He was the owner and caretaker of Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake near the foot of the mountain , and he came to fame as a folk hero in the months preceding the volcano 's 1980 eruption after he refused to leave his home despite evacuation orders . Truman is presumed to have been killed by a that overtook his lodge and buried the site under of volcanic debris
1980 eruption
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Harry R. Truman