So sorry to hear of the passing of my uncle Donnie, the last of the Fenimore and Enid (Ross) children. I grew up with Uncle Donnie. We had a great childhood! Uncle Donnie took “care of me” when Madeline and Roy had to out. I loved him dearly💖. RIP. Love, Clarice
Donald M. Howard
April 16, 1930 – September 18, 2022
Memorial services celebrating the life of Donald M. Howard, 92, of Dalton and formerly of Luxemburg will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 26, 2022 at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud. Donnie passed away peacefully, with family by his side, on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at the Fargo VA Health Care System. Inurnment with military honors will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday at the funeral home.
Donnie was born on April 16, 1930 in Princeton, Minnesota, the tenth of eleven children, to Fenimore and Enid (Ross) Howard. His childhood years were filled wandering the fields of the family farm in Wyanett Township near Green Lake. He graduated from Princeton High School and at the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed at Gulf Shores, Alabama. He married Betty O’Neil on September 18, 1953 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Princeton. Donnie worked for Northwestern Bell for 31 years, retiring as an engineer in 1983. He volunteered with Catholic Charities and Telephone Pioneers of America. Donnie was a member of the Ashby American Legion Post #357 and the Fergus Falls Senior Center.
Donnie enjoyed spending winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama, carving, hunting, fishing and touring the countryside in his beloved Polaris Ranger. He loved to travel and he and one of his daughters went to China at the age of 80. Donnie was an avid sports fan who enjoyed watching the Vikings and also attending his grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s sporting events. Late in life, he still went to the gym and for daily walks with his neighbors. Donnie took pride in staying fit. He will be remembered as a very patient, quiet man who loved to tinker. Donnie was a devoted husband and went to heaven on his 69th wedding anniversary.
He is survived by his children, Debbie (Keith) Mickelson of Dalton, Mark (Gayle) of St. Cloud, Mary Jo Howard of Naples, Florida and Julie (Dean) Wall of Clear Lake; ten grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Frances Howard.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty in 2007; siblings, Madeline Johnson, Ross, Florence Leathers, Charlie, Willie, Robert, James, Thelma Hoeft, Cynthia Ablard, Roy, and four infant siblings.
A heartfelt thank you to the Fargo VA Health Care System for their exceptional care.
Memorials are preferred.
Guestbook
Donnie, the quiet uncle. But like my Dad, Roy, Donnie would wait for as long as it took (sometimes months) to use a specific punch line for a joke.
I hope that I have lived my life, at least part of it, as devoted to family and life as the Howard brothers have. I envy their early days on the farm. I think Laurel and Hardy got some of their material from them.
I remember Donnie being extremely nice and loyal to his family (his father, his brothers and sisters, his wife and kids). Donnie and Roy were a lot alike and my dream was to be just like them. In fact all of the Howard brothers and sisters were great; kind of the Green Lake Kennedys. I have nothing but fond memories of growing up on Green Lake.. And I could continue to go on and on.
God bless you Donnie. And my deepest, deepest sympathy to the Donnie Howard Family. This will be my anguish.
Thank you for being a wonderful Uncle.
One day probably not too far away we will be able to spend more time together.
With Grateful Love,
Jim Howard
On top of being a wonderful Man…He was a very loving and excellent Father…I will miss him forever and think of him daily…until we meet again.
My sympathy in the loss of your father.
Services
Visitation
Daniel Funeral Home, St. CloudServices
Daniel Funeral Home, St. CloudSchedule Details
Memorial services celebrating the life of Donald M. Howard, 92, of Dalton and formerly of Luxemburg will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 26, 2022 at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud. Donnie passed away peacefully, with family by his side, on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at the Fargo VA Health Care System. Inurnment with military honors will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday at the funeral home.