Michael Howes

Michael K. “Mike” Howes, 61, Wahpeton, ND, died Thursday, March 26, 2009 at St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge , MN . The funeral service will be Wednesday, 2:00 PM, at the Harvest Outreach Church , Wahpeton with Pastor Todd Gafkjen officiating. There will be visitation Tuesday, from 5 PM to 8 PM with a 6:30 PM prayer service at Willow Creek Chapel ( 920 3 ^rd Ave. N. ) Wahpeton, and one hour before the service at the church. Funeral arrangements are with Vertin-Munson Funeral Home,

Wahpeton.

Mike was born May 14, 1947, the son of Kenneth and Irene (Wruck) Howes, at Devils Lake , ND . Mike grew up in Devils Lake where he attended school and was active in band. He attended NDSCS and worked in telephone construction in the upper Midwest . He started his career as a North Dakota Highway State Patrolman in 1969, being stationed in Cooperstown , ND . He was united in marriage to Mary Kuklok on August 8, 1970 in Cooperstown . Mike was transferred to Wahpeton in 1974 where he continued to serve as a Highway Patrolman until his retirement in June of 1998. Mike continued to stay active, doing work for Comstock Construction, Kanga Machinery, and hauling sugar beets for Thimjon Farms in the fall.

Mike was a member of the Harvest Outreach Church , Wahpeton, where he was an usher and greeter for the church. He enjoyed snowmobiling and assisted in training safety classes for the youth, playing croquet, and cutting wood. He also was the handyman for the apartments Ronda manages. Mike was very proud of his grandchildren, especially his “little shadow”, Seth.

Mike is survived by his wife Mary Howes, Wahpeton; his daughter and son and five grandchildren: Ronda (Rick) Hoglund, and children, Trevor, Seth and Hayden of Wahpeton; Wade (Kathie) Howes and children, Salem Marie and Penelope “Pennie” Ellen, of Sacramento, CA, and his brother, James (Mary) Howes, Stanfield, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Irene, and his sister Linda Lane .