Winnifred Annie Howard

February 26,1922 – January 5, 2022

Winnie Howard passed away on January 5, 2022, in her 100th year, after suffering a stroke.

She leaves behind her five children: Brenda (Gary) Blum, of Saskatoon, Sask., Tedd (Anne) Howard, of Okanagan Falls, B.C., Nancy (Floyd) Umpherville, of Hanley Sask., Robert (Shelley) Howard of Hamilton ON, and Kathie (Murray) Clare of Saskatoon, Sask., 15 grandchildren, 32 greatgrandchildren and 5 great, greatgrandchildren.

She was predeceased by her infant daughter, Kathleen, her husband Brine (James Brine) her stepson Jim Jr., stepdaughter Fern and great grandson Benjamin.

Winnie was born in Hamilton Ontario February 26, 1922, and lived in several small Ontario communities before her family settled in London Ontario, where she completed her schooling. In 1942 she entered the Toronto Bible College (now Tyndale University College) to train as a missionary. During that time, she joined the Canadian Sunday School Mission and conducted Vacation Bible School in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. While in New Brunswick, she was part of the group that started the New Brunswick Bible Institute. She graduated Toronto Bible College in 1945 but was unable to pursue her passion for missions due to a childhood schoolyard incident that left a piece of pencil lead in her lungs. In the fall of 1946, she traveled to Castlegar, BC to continue her ministry with children and ultimately became the youth pastor at the Alliance Church in Trail. It was there that she met her future husband James Brine Howard Sr., and they were married July 17, 1948. The Howards had 6 children, and Winnie settled into the role of mom and homemaker in Trail. In 1963, her family experienced a major upheaval as they moved to St. Cyr Lake, Saskatchewan to become pork producers. Winnie was very resilient and soon adapted to the change in role from homemaker to farmer’s wife! It was during this time that her passion for gardening truly blossomed! In 1973 the love of her life, Brine, was taken from her. Winnie sold the family farm and moved to Meadow Lake. She later moved to New Westminster, BC in 1986 and finally to Saskatoon in 1993.

Cremation has taken place and due to COVID restriction a Celebration of Winnie’s life will be held at a future time.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory to The Salvation Army Beaver Creek Camp, #809, RR8 Box 19 Saskatoon, SK., S7K 1M2 would be appreciated.