Roger Howe

Velva

Roger Howe, 93, Velva, passed away Friday, June 20, 2025, surrounded by family in his daughter’s home in Owatonna, Minn.

Roger Peter Howe was born on the family farm in rural Bergen on April 17, 1932. His parents were Merrill and Selma (Pederson) Howe.

He attended school in Bergen until the school closed and then he transferred to Velva where he graduated in 1950.

Roger worked with his father on the farm that was homesteaded by his maternal grandparents.

After Merrill passed in 1973, Roger took over the farm and looked after his mother for 30 years until Selma’s passing in 2003.

He married Phyllis Jelsing on October 4, 1958. They shared 63 years of married life until Phyllis passed on March 10, 2022.

Roger had a deep love for the land and was committed to keeping it in the family for future generations. The land has been in the family for over a hundred years. Between milking Holsteins for 50 years and farming there was not a lot of extra time.

After retiring in 2002 and moving to Velva he finally had time to relax. Roger enjoyed reading the newspaper from beginning to end, watching basketball on TV, word find puzzle books, gardening and jigsaw puzzles. This past winter he completed over 70 jigsaw puzzles. He also loved his naps!

His loving family includes: children, Kevin (Machelle) Howe, Kimberly (Phillip) Williams, Karla (Michael) Tull; grandchildren, Heather (Ryan) Lowe, Michael (Jaime) Howe, Sara (Jason) Lee, Dallas (Kayla) Williams, Justin (Rebecca) Lambert, Haley Tull; great-grandchildren, Ryleigh, Hadleigh, Finley, and Renley Lowe, Harper Williams, Nora, and Violet Lambert. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Phyllis; sister, Myrtle Marler.

Celebration of Life: Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church, Velva.

Fellowship: Following the service at Velva City Hall.

Inurnment: Bethel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Bergen.

Memorials: are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Cemetery Fund for continued maintenance of this rural cemetery.

Published by The Minot Daily News July 8, 2025.