Helen Emma (Griffith) Howard, 95, of Peoria, Az. and formerly of Williston, ND and a life member of the 1st Union Church of Williston, entered into glory on January 13, 2018 surrounded by those who loved her in Surprise, AZ. Her services are with Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Williston, ND.

On January 6, 1923, Helen Emma was born in Cincinnati, OH to Edward James and Emma Christine (Borger) Griffith. When Helen was a few months old, she went by train with her parents and two-year-old sister, Lorraine, to Williston, ND to make this their home. Her dad had a job as a machinist for the Great Northern Railroad.

It was quite an adjustment for her parents moving to a small town far away from family and the large city life they were used to. The help and friendliness of their neighbors soon made them feel at home, making Williston a place they loved. Two other sisters were born, Jean and Margaret (Peggy), completing their family. The girls and their mother would go by train during summer school breaks back to Cincinnati, for reunions with their many relatives.

When Helen was five years old, she went with her older sister to the Congregational Church Sunday School where she joined youth choir and youth group. Helen’s love of singing didn’t stop there, throughout her life she was active in various groups including Girl Scouts, Glee Club and mixed chorus in high school, Sweet Adelines, Red Hat Ladies, and over 10 years with the Choraleers of the Heritage Senior Center. She had a lovely soprano voice, often singing solos in high school.

She graduated high school in May 1941. In September of that year, she started nurses training with the Sisters of Mercy at Mercy Hospital in Williston. She also had six-months of neuro-psych training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, under the World War II Cadet Nursing Program. After passing state board exams, she received her Registered Nurse diploma in September 1944. She worked a year as a RN at Mercy Hospital. In the fall of 1945, she went to Tacoma, WA with a fellow nurse and friend where Helen worked at the Northern Pacific Railroad Hospital for seven years before returning to Williston.

She met her future husband, Bill, who had eyes for her, long before she knew it. He would show up on the floor of the hospital where she worked and pretend to ask for a friend’s room just to share a moment with her. One time while shopping at Hedderich’s, in her nurse’s uniform with large pockets, she thought he was following her thinking she was shoplifting only to find out he was interested in her.

On March 22, 1953, she was united in marriage to William (Bill) B. Howard at the Congregational Church. Bill was part owner of the G.M. Hedderich Department Store. They were blessed with three children, Kenneth Allen, Nancy Christine, and James William.

Helen was a stay at home mom and enjoyed being involved in her children’s activities; a leader for Bluebirds and 4-H. Summer vacations were spent visiting her sisters and family in Montana, Minnesota, and California. Over the years, she was actively involved in her church and served on various committees such as Women’s Fellowship, Children’s Sunday School, and adult choir, to name a few. Her love of bowling was in her genes as her parents owned a small bowling alley and for many years, she participated in the Women’s Bowling League. Helen loved card games, enjoyed needlework, gardening and was an excellent cook. Despite her vision problems and having to use large numbered cards, she played in bridge club for 30 years and started a Skip-Bo group with friends, after learning the game on one of her trips to Arizona. She could play that game for hours!
Sadly, Helen was widowed after celebrating 21 years of marriage, when husband, Bill passed suddenly.

During this time, she worked part-time as a night nurse at Bethel Home and in the fall of 1974, she was employed by the University of ND, Williston. For six years, she was a Clinical Supervisor of students for Geriatric Training at Bethel Home.

After retiring from her nursing career, she served as a volunteer at the Mercy Hospital, the blood bank, for The American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels, and was on the Board of Directors of the Williston Council on Aging. The Heritage Center recognized her as Volunteer of the Month, in 2003.

Helen enjoyed many memorable trips including the 1933 Chicago World Fair, the 1940 New York World Fair, Washington D.C., and a surprise trip from her sister, Lorraine, to Turkey, Greece, and Italy traveling where the Apostle Paul shared the Gospel message. She often made trips to Phoenix to visit family and her beloved granddaughters.

After the First Union Church dissolved, Helen became a member of Faith United Methodist Church in May 2006. She moved to Peoria, AZ in July 2012, living at Pacifica Memory Care close by to her daughter, Nancy and family.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, parents, Ed and Emma, sister, Lorraine, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, five brother-in-laws, and two sister-in-laws. She is survived by her sons Kenneth, Mandan, ND, James, Williston, ND, daughter Nancy (Stephen) Bontrager, Peoria, AZ, granddaughters, Alison Bontrager, Phoenix, AZ, Jacquelyn (Brian) Will, Oceanside, CA, sisters Jean McDonough, Billings, MT, Peggy Stolz, Exeter, CA, and many nieces and nephews.

God gave us the best in this special lady, not only as a dear mother to her children, but as a daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother, and friend. She brought us countless moments of laughter, wit, and joy, that will continue to comfort us, make us smile, and keep her ever present in our hearts each day. She never lost her sweet disposition, appreciativeness to those who cared for her, and was singing her favorite songs to the end.

Memorial Contribution