Connie Howard

Connie J. Howard (Stone) passed peacefully as the sun rose on September 6th, 2022 with family by her side.

Born September 2nd, 1946 to Galend and Alice (Howe) Stone in Tracy, MN, she attended school in Tracy and graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1964. Connie was very involved in her community, participating in the Order of the Eastern Star, Miss Tracy pageant, and serving as Grand Bethel Queen in Jobs daughters. After 6 years of courtship, she married her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life, Byron Lee Howard in May of 1967.

Together they welcomed Stephanie, David, & Scott; raising them in the infamous Cherokee Hills neighborhood in Shoreview, Minnesota where neighbors became second family. Connie worked in an admin role for 3M, Deluxe, and Techtronix before a job transfer brought Byron & Connie to Vancouver in 1995. She was a devoted and involved member of Incarnation Lutheran Church in MN and Messiah Lutheran Church Vancouver, where she worked as Office Administrator until her retirement in 2017.

Connie’s family, particularly her grandchildren, were the light of her life and she excelled in her role as ‘Grandma’. She was well known for holidays, lavish parties, lush gardens, cooking, baking, spoiling grandkids, and her pantry, which never seemed to run out of candy.

She was welcomed in heaven by her husband, Byron; parents, Galend & Alice Stone; Brother, William Stone; and sister, Gayla Stone. She will be dearly missed by her children, Stephanie (William) Rinehart of Shoreview, MN; David Howard of Vancouver, WA; and Scott (Jennifer) Howard of Vancouver, WA; grandchildren Molly, Grace, & Kate Rinehart and Luna, Carolyn, Quinn, & Andrew Howard; sister-in-law Susan Stone; special friend, Chuck Pfister; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 905 NW 94th St., Vancouver, WA on September 24th, 2022 at 11 am with a luncheon to follow. The service will also be live-streamed; please reach out to WeLoveCJH@gmail.com for more information.