Ruth Marie Howard

She was born June 22, 1924, in Center, Colo., the youngest of five children raised by William and Katherine Metsker. After graduating from Center High School she attended Colorado State College of Education, now known as the University of Northern Colorado. Ruth was active in the Sigma Upsilon sorority and was elected president. With World War II in full swing, Ruth and her sorority sisters often contributed to the war effort by rolling bandages, writing letters and entertaining soldiers.

After graduating, she returned to Center to teach home economics. In 1946 she eloped with William Howard of Gill, a tall, gentle farmer whom she had met during her college years. Throughout their 50 years together, Ruth often mentioned how lucky she was to marry into a kind, welcoming family.

She frequently read a book per week, was an accomplished cook, a capable gardener and wasn’t afraid to pitch in with the farm work. During harvest season, she was known to load her young children into the cab of a truck and deliver loads of beets to the beet dump. With her trusty Singer sewing machine, she stitched up countless Halloween costumes, a daughter’s wedding dress and one legendary cowboy shirt.

She handled life’s numerous setbacks — floods, hailstorms, frozen crops, low commodity prices and her husband’s bouts with depression — with patience and stoicism.

During the 1960s, she began making a major financial contribution to the family by taking a job in the food service department at the Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, where she worked for more than a decade. As a member of First Congregational Church in Greeley, she frequently volunteered at the local food bank.

Ruth was energized by a job with Envision of Greeley, where she worked as a personal assistant for people with disabilities. She loved her clients and continued working until her retirement at age 80.

Ruth often downplayed her own accomplishments, but she frequently praised her six grandchildren as exceptional. She loved the Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies and college basketball almost as much as her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings and her husband, who died in 1997. The death of her son, Clifford, who succumbed to cancer in early 2017, was a significant blow that left her pondering life’s mysteries.

She is survived by six children: Jim (Jan) of Berthoud; David of Longmont; John (Cathy) of Grand Island Nebraska; Tom (Clair) of Billings, Montana; Julie Graboi (Dan) of Encinitas, California; and Mary Turner (Ross) of Montrose. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Kenny Howard (Savanna) of Denver; Tommy Howard of Denver; Emily Turner of Denver; David Turner (Natalia) of Greeley; Mitchell Graboi of Encinitas, California; and Laura Turner of Montrose.

A joint service will be held for Ruth and her son Cliff at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the Howe Mortuary in Longmont, CO

Memorials can be made to Envision, P.O. Box 200069, Evans, Colo., 80620.