Bernice Anna Shold Howard, 96, of Grand Marais, Minnesota passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 4, 2019. She was born November 8, 1922, the fourth of 10 (surviving) children born to Andrew and Freda (Backlund) Shold of Grand Marais, Minnesota. Bernice graduated in 1940 from Cook County High School and attended Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota.
During World War II, Bernice worked for the U.S. government as a meteorologist in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where she met her husband, Robert Alvah (Bob) Howard. Bernice married Bob on April 3, 1948, and he preceded her in death on November 25, 1991, after 43 years of marriage. Bernice and Bob’s five children were born in Michigan, where Bernice and Bob lived for nearly 30 years.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (Bob), three brothers (Lloyd, Lester, and Roger) and one sister (Betty Brummer).
Bernice is survived by her five children: Barbara (Chuck) Wagner of San Diego, California; Robert (Phyllis) Howard of Parma, Ohio; William (Nancy) Howard of Ventura, California; John Howard of Elkhart, Indiana; and Jane Howard of Duluth, Minnesota.
Bernice is survived by her 11 grandchildren: Richard (Donna) Howard of St. Joseph, Michigan; Rachel (Mark) Spear of Granger, Indiana; Mark (Martyna) Shallenberg of Salt Lake City, Utah; Jason (Samantha) Wagner of Sherman Oaks, California; Chelsea (Val) Keramidas of Barrington, Illinois; Kate Howard of Laramie, Wyoming; Emily Howard of Elkhart and Mishawaka, Indiana; Ashley Howard-Larsen of Aitkin, Minnesota; Paisley Howard-Larsen of Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Faith Carter of Schroeder, Minnesota; and Adrian Howard-Larsen of Grand Marais, Minnesota. Bernice is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren plus another expected in May.
Bernice is survived by three brothers (Erland, David, and Wally) and two sisters (Ruth Lovaas and Fern Lovaas).
Bernice loved music. Her love of organ and piano resulted in her being a church organist from an early age right up until her death.
Bernice loved to travel. She and Bob made two tours of Europe and visited numerous other countries including Canada, Mexico, Panama, and Cuba, visiting missionaries in several countries. Bernice also visited countries in the Caribbean and toured Israel. She was able to visit her relatives in Sweden three times. Bernice spent many winters in Florida with her husband, and for the last 15 years she spent her winters in California with two of her children.
Bernice loved her family, her friends, and her neighbors. She will be remembered for her warm hospitality, elegant dinner parties, and for lovingly and generously sharing her homemade bread, coffee cake, jams, and jellies. “We always knew when Mom came home with red fingers that she had been picking berries,” said her son Bill.
Many who knew Bernice knew of her little red wagon, which she used to pull grandchildren around the yard, to haul brush and firewood, and to carry picnic food down to the shore of Lake Superior at the end of her yard in Grand Marais. After turning 96, Bernice continued hauling firewood and shoveling snow and chopped down and carried in her own Christmas tree.
Bernice’s soul will shine on much like the light of her cabin on Lake Superior that has been burning brightly for over 50 years. Burning brightest of all was Bernice’s love for her savior, Jesus Christ, whom she reflected to all who knew her.
A memorial service for Bernice will be held Wednesday, May 29 at 1 p.m. at Cornerstone Community Church.
Memorials to Bernice may be made to: Cornerstone Community Church, Grand Marais, where she was a member most of her life.
Leave a Reply