Mildred Julia (Perry) Howard
Mildred Julia (Perry) Howard, age 89, of Brainerd, passed away Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at Good Samaritan Society-Birchwood in Brainerd. She was born March 12, 1919, in Brainerd to Henry and Katherine (Pendergast) Perry.
Mildred graduated from Aitkin High School on Thursday, May 13, 1940. Mildred enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 12, 1944. Serving overseas, she attained the rank of Tec 4 and was honorably discharged at Fort Sheridan, Ill., on March 15, 1946.
Mildred was united in marriage to Woodrow Peter Howard on Saturday, June 14, 1947. They lived in the Aitkin area until 1957 when they moved to Brainerd. Millie was a homemaker and very active with her two sons and husband, also being involved in camping, fishing and hunting. Mildred was Den Mother for Cub Scouts and Webalos.
In 1964, Woodrow passed away and she went to work for the Brainerd School System. Mildred started full-time in the fall of 1965 working as secretary for the head librarian, retiring in 1989. Millie enjoyed remembering birthdays and special events sending cards and presents. She was active in many church functions at St. Francis Catholic Church.
Millie is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-laws John (Linda) Howard of Houston, Texas, and Steven (Susan) Howard of Austin, Minn.; five grandchildren, Benjamin Howard of Tempe, Ariz., Jeremy Howard of Houston, Texas, Robert Orient of Phoenix, Ariz., Christine Orient of Minneapolis, Minn., and Angela Howard of Mankato, Minn.; three great grandchildren, River Arik, Max and Sofia Orient of Phoenix, Ariz.; one brother and sister-in-law Raymond (Phyllis) Morris of Aitkin, Minn.
Mildred enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 12, 1944. Serving overseas, she attained the rank of Tec 4 and was honorably discharged at Fort Sheridan, Ill., on March 15, 1946.
She was preceded in death by her husband Woodrow "Woody" Howard, her parents Henry Perry and Dewey and Katherine (Pendergast-Perry) Morris, brothers, John Perry, George Perry, Harry Perry, Dalton (Pat) Perry, Andrew Perry, Frederick Perry and Richard Morris; sisters Helen Johnson, Irene Perry, Frances (Lou) Digiovanni, Nancy Howard and Hazel Huber.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Father Gabriel Waweru officiating. Burial will be in Howard Cemetery, Aitkin, Minn. Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m. Sunday at Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd with parish prayers at 6 p.m. and rosary following. Visitation will continue Monday the hour before services at the church.
Memorials are preferred to Heifer's International. Arrangements by Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.