Mary M. Howsden

Mary was born in Western Nebraska to Clifford and Olive Muir (Ziemann ) on November 23, 1930. Mary‘s dad worked on the railroad. He also delivered coal. Mary helped her dad deliver milk to the neighbors.

Mary played basketball in high school. This was back when women were only allowed 2 dribbles. There were 6 on a team: 3 guards that defended and rebounded on one half of the court, and 3 offensive players that stayed on the other end of the court. Educators considered it indelicate for women to go full court. It was a foul to have more than 3 team players in the same half court.

She graduated from Western high school in 1948. Two years later, she graduated from Fairbury junior college. Mary moved to Lincoln, NE and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1954. Her major was home economics. She attended Temple Baptist church and worked at Back to the Bible Broadcast.

The most significant event of here life happened while attending Temple Baptist Church. One evening at a revival service the pastor preached on Ephesians 2:8 and 9. “For by Grace, are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast.” Walking home from the service, she realized she did not have to work for her salvation. She called out to God, repenting of her sins and accepting by faith Jesus payment for her sin on the cross. Immediately she was relieved and had lasting inner peace. She desired to live for Jesus by faith because of what he had done for her.

After graduating from the University, Mary worked as a home extension agent in Harlan County Nebraska. She attended church in Alma. There a young Wendell Howsden noticed her. He showed up at her door and timorously stood there. After an awkward few moments, Mary said I’ll get my coat, and they went to the revival meeting together for their first date. A few months later, as they were walking together, Wendell was shuffling with his hands in his pockets. Mary asked if he had rocks in his pockets. It turned out that he did. She wore that rock for the next 70 years. They were married on September 29, 1956.

At that point, two became one, and their purpose and goals in life merged. They purposed to spend their lives together serving the Lord. Her goal was to support her husband and take care of her family. The family grew to include five children: Paul, Sandra, Roger, Mark, and Ruth. Wendel farmed and worked at a lumber yard. Mary contributed by getting up at 4 o’clock in the morning and making bread to take to sell at the local grocery store.

Their goal was to share the gospel where Christ was not named. So, in 1964, they packed up their family, and moved to Three Hills, Alberta, Canada to attended Prairie Bible institute to prepare to be missionaries. After graduating, they were too old, translated over 30, and had too large a family, so no mission board would accept them. They moved to Duncan Oklahoma, where Wendell pastored a country church with Village Missions. A year later they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. Wendell worked at Midwest lumber company and started Arnold Heights Bible Church.

Not able to be missionaries themselves, Mary and Wendell committed to supporting missionaries. One year, as they were working on their taxes, Mary commented that they had earned more money they had ever had before. Wendel asked, “Where did it go?” Mary replied, “You gave it all away.”

Mary and her husband ministered wherever they were. Neighborhood children joined her family for family devotions. They hosted missionaries and anyone who needed a place to live. Several times families lived in her basement. She taught child evangelism fellowship and after school clubs with flannel graph. Mary also corrected prison fellowship bible study papers. She believed that prayer did not prepare her for the greater work, prayer was her greater work.

They did manage to go on some short term mission trips to Mexico and Senegal Africa. Mary loved it in Africa, where they spent six months building cabinets and bathrooms for the Wycliffe missionaries. Mary couldn’t speak the local language, so she had to improvise when shopping there. For instance, she would take an egg with her to market when she needed to buy more.

As recently as a month ago, Mary thought the odds were good that she would be taken up in the rapture by the Upper-taker before being overtaken by the undertaker. She underestimated the goodness and long suffering of God who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Clifford and Olive Muir, her husband, Wendel, brothers Roland and Charles, and a sister Vivian. Those she left behind to celebrate her going home to heaven include her sister Marlys Babcock and husband Gene of South Rockwood MI, five children: Paul and wife Elaine of Lincoln NE, Sandra Fox and husband Kenneth of Spring City TN, Roger and wife Darlene of Lincoln NE, Mark and wife Joyce of Lincoln NE, Ruth Whybrew of Upland IN, 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and a host of friends.

Please consider giving memorials to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR CONNECTION (Steve Janovec's ministry to Muslims) www.TinyUrl.com/LYNCDonation PO Box 67071 Lincoln, NE 68506 or Cornerstone Baptist Church 6251 Colby St Lincoln NE 68505.

A memorial service for Mary will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 6251 Colby Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68505. Luncheon to follow at Cornerstone Church.