Rose A. Howard,  86, of Minnewaukan, ND,  died Saturday, December 26th, 2009, at her home on Grahams Island.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday,  December 30th, 2009,  10:00 AM  at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Devils Lake, with Fr. Charles Leute, celebrant. The eulogy will be given by Roger Wetzel.

Burial will be in the spring at St. James Catholic Cemetery at Minnewaukan.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 2 to 5pm at the Nelson Funeral Home in Minnewaukan and after 6:30 pm at Seven Dolars Catholic Church in Fort Totten where there will be a 7:00 PM Rosary and Vigil.

Casket bearers will be her grandsons:  Darryl Howard,  Troy Howard,  Travis Howard,  Wilson Howard,  Zachary Howard,  Benjamin Grann,  Johnny Grann,  Austin Erickson and Bryer Erickson.  Music for the mass will be from Rhonda Thompson Howard,  Rita Thompson Halvorson and Claudette Carlson, vocalists with JoDee Lagein, organist.

Rose Ameilia Howard was born June 10, 1923, on her family's farm in Lallie Township, North of Oberon in Benson County.  She was the youngest daughter of Vincent and Maria (Sondorfer) Wetzel, who were immigrants from Germany.  She attended grade school and graduated from high school at Oberon.  She married Wilson Howard on Oct 28, 1941 at St. Michael, ND.  Rose lived in Lallie Township while Wilson served in the U.S. Army during World War II from June 1942 to November 1945.  The spring of 1946, they bought land on Grahams Island.  They built a home, started a cattle ranching operation and raised their family.  Rose taught at the Grahams Island school for a short while.  After Wilson's death on Sept. 27, 1992, Rose continued living and raising cattle on her place.  She was employed at the Lake Region Livestock Auction until the fall of 2008.

Rose was a member of the St. James Catholic Church in Minnewaukan until its closing, and recently a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Fort Totten.  Rose and Wilson were always interested in horses and were trail riders from 1971 until 1990.  Rose enjoyed picking Juneberries and was known to many as the "Juneberry Lady".  Rose loved her place on Grahams Island and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Rose is survived by 4 sons:  Eugene (Bernadine) Howard of Rugby,  James Howard of Bismarck,  Allan (Lisa) Howard of Sheyenne and Norman (Brenda) Howard of Devils Lake;  2 daughters:  ElDonna (John) Grann of Sheyenne  and Bonnie (Corey) Erickson of Grahams Island.  14 grandchildren;  5 great grandchildren;  2 sisters:  Pauline Borg of Devils Lake and Mathilda Olson Wallace of Oberon.

She was preceded in death by her parents:  Vincent and Maria Wetzel;  husband, Wilson; daughter, Lori and a brother, Albert Wetzel.



Condolences:


Howard Family:

Sorry to hear of the loss of your Mother.She maybe gone from your sight, but never from your heart.

With our deepest sympathy.



Ken and Cindy Simon





Bonnie, Corey & Family...I am sorry to hear of your loss.  Rose was such a wonderful person.  I'll never forget the island parties and playing card games with her.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all.






: mark motis and his family send their sincerest condolences to rose's family.  we are unable to attend the prayer service or the funeral. rose was a special person to all of us and made our move to minnewaukan a pleasant move. our families had many very enjoyable times together and we will always think of the rose and wilson howard family as special friends. may she not go like the quarry slave scourged into the dungeon at night but rather wrapping the drapes of her couch about her lie down to pleasant dreams.  mark motis family





Howard Family. I am sorry to hear of your lose.  Rose was a wonderful woman.  We as kids with mom and dad (Gordon and Jeannette Burdick) came to visit may times.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  Judy (Burdick) Brosz





Family,

Mistte and I send our condolences to all of you and your families. I have many fond memories of Rose. She was a fine lady that was always kind and generous to me.

We will keep all of you and her memory in our thoughts and prayers.

Travis and Mistte Maddock





Thinking of you and extending our heartfelt sympathy.  Rose was such a sweet lady and who enjoyed life to the fullest. May God be near you all now and in the difficult days ahead.  With sympathy and understanding,

Renee and Preston Gilderhus



We are so sorry about the loss of your Mom, Grandma & Great-Grandma.  She so loved her family & her life on Graham's Island.



Gary & Ginny Sears