Ruth Ella Ward Howe

Ruth Ella Ward Howe

Jan. 14, 1955 – Jan. 5, 2023

Ruth Ella Ward Howe, 67, died of cancer at North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.

She was born Jan. 14, 1955, in Lusk, Wyoming, the daughter of Grant R. and Ella Marie Ward. She spent her childhood in Lance Creek, Wyoming, and attended the Cow Creek school, graduating from Niobrara County High School in 1973.

She lived in Lusk and Powell after her marriage to Thomas Charles Middleton in Manville, Wyoming, Aug. 25, 1973. Two children, Robert and Tamara, were born to this union. Thomas passed away in 1978, after which she married Bryce Steven Walker on Nov. 4, 1978. Two children, Steven and Ella, were born to this union. Ruth married Glen Rice Howe in the Idaho Falls Temple on Jan. 5, 1996.

She was baptized a member of the LDS Church on Oct. 26, 1979, and lived in Lovell.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Grant R. and Ella Marie Ward, first husband Thomas Charles Middleton and granddaughter Hope Della May Walker. 

She is survived by her spouse, Glen; aunts Carrie Jean Prell of Douglas, Wyoming, Nora Johnson of Williston, North Dakota, and May Smith of Manville, Wyoming; uncle Fred Ward of Riverton, Wyoming; sons Robert Leroy (Wilbert) Middleton of Kent, Washinton, and Steven Merle (Sabrina) Walker of Lovell; daughters Tamara Renae (Samuel) Twitchell and Ella May Bazemore of Lovell; brothers Washington Scott Ward of Whitehall, New York, and George Grant Ward of Lovell; sisters Lydia Ione Lefforge of Evansville, Wyoming, and Earlene Ester Ward of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren Katrina (Caden) Zeller, KayCee Twitchell, Burl Twitchell, Charlee Twitchell, Faith Allen, Justice Norstad, Damen Allen, Freedom Walker, Kristina Steiner, Elizabeth Steiner, Justin Walker, Nevaeh Walker and Abigail Bazemore; great-grandchildren Octavia Zeller and Kaysen Zeller; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 10, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lovell with Bishop Ken Grant conducting. Burial was in the Lovell Cemetery. Haskell Funeral Home oversaw arrangements.