Howard Henry Heiden

Howard H. Heiden, age 90, Watertown, formerly of rural Clark, near Elrod, died early Monday morning, December 5, 2011 in the Prairie Lakes Hospital at Watertown. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 11AM in the First United Methodist Church at Watertown with The Reverend Joel Higgins officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. The organist will be Karen Mee with Evan Lamb as soloist. The casketbearers will be his grandchildren, Tamra Fischbach, Kari Toupal, Sonia Mack, Dale Heiden, Rena'e Bosch & Joanne Tvedt. He was born Howard Henry Heiden on June 28, 1921 at Clark, SD, the son of Lloyd and Evelyn (Killmer) Heiden. He was schooled in a country school near Clark until the family moved to Sheldon, WA. for work. After a couple of years, Howard returned to Clark County and worked for the Wolfe's Dairy near Clark. On June 22, 1944 he was united in marriage to Violet Lamb at the Congregational Church in Watertown. He worked for her brother, Ralph Lamb for a short time before the couple moved to the farm near Elrod where they have lived until moving into Benet Place in Watertown about three years ago. Howard was a lover of the land, raising many crops over the years. He was extremely proud of his Hereford herd and was known by many for his high quality of pigs. Howard took great pride in the way his farm and equipment looked and was respected by many as he respected them. Howard thoroughly enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren, often playing UNO with them, treating them with M & M's and quarters, even recently getting down onto the floor to play with the great-grandchildren. He and Violet enjoyed 11 winters in Donna, TX and also traveled to Florida and Arizona. They took yearly camping trips to the Black Hills of South Dakota enjoying the beauty of the Hills and relaxing. Besides his love of the land, family and traveling, he also enjoyed gardening, bowling, hunting, playing cards and music. He was a member of the United Methodist Church at Clark for many years serving on various boards, being a part of the farming bee and other workings of the Church. Currently he was a member of the First United Methodist Church at Watertown. Howard was instrumental in assisting to raise the funds to open the Jenkins Living Center in Watertown many years ago. He also had served on the Clark School Board, the Garden City Elevator Board and the Eden Township Board. Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother Kendal. Grateful for having shared in his life is his loving wife of over 67 years, Violet of Watertown, children, Marlene ((Harry) Munkvold of Chamberlain and Rolland "Rollie" (Janet) Heiden of Watertown, 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Heiden of Clark. He also leaves a host of friends and other family members. For further information please go to www.furnessfuneralhome.com