Margaret Esther Howell
April 13, 1913 — October 14, 2014
Funeral services for Margaret Esther Howell, 101, of Aberdeen, will be 1:30 p.m., Saturday, October 18, 2014, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1620 Milwaukee Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Pastor Kevin Bergeson officiating. Burial follows at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen.
Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is handling arrangements.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at the mortuary, and one hour before the service at the church Saturday.
Margaret passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor Retirement Community, Aberdeen, SD.
Memorials are preferred to either Avera Mother Joseph Manor Retirement Community or Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aberdeen.
Margaret Esther Nelson was born on April 13, 1913, in Aberdeen, SD, to Martin and Katie (Ellingson) Nelson. She grew up on a farm near Barnard, SD. Margaret attended school in Barnard and graduated from Barnard High School in 1931. In 1932, Margaret and her family moved to Aberdeen, SD, where she worked at several homes as a nurse's aide and housekeeper.
Margaret was united in marriage to Harvey R. Howell on September 4, 1934. The couple made their home on a farm northeast of Aberdeen, where they raised five children. After selling the farm, Margaret and Harvey moved to Aberdeen. They shared almost 43 years of marriage before Harvey passed away on June 18, 1977. Margaret continued to make Aberdeen her home until the time of her death.
Margaret was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Senior Citizens Center in Aberdeen. She was an avid gardener. Margaret was also a wonderful cook and was well known for her delicious chocolate cakes.
Grateful for having shared Margaret's life are her children: Robert (Irene) Howell and Donna Johnson, both of Aberdeen, and Dennis (Claudia) Howell of Sioux Falls, SD; 14 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and numerous great great-grandchildren.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey; one son, Jerry Howell; one daughter, Marjorie Gubin; one grandson, Robert Howell, Jr.; two granddaughters, Teresa and Terry Howell; one great-grandson, Lucas Johnson; her parents, Martin and Katie; three brothers; three sisters; and one son-in-law, Ronald "Jack" Gubin.