Mildred Howlett

Mildred I. Howlett, 97, of Britt, passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at First Lutheran Church in Britt with Rev. Anna Wolf officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm, Monday at Cataldo Funeral Home, 178 First Ave., SW, in Britt and will resume one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church or to the family in honor of Mildred.

Mildred Irene Howlett, the daughter of Ralph and Esther (Hartwig) Fisher, was born December 13, 1925, in Eagle Grove. When she was five years old, she moved with her family from Eagle Grove to Denhart. Mildred attended country school in Magor Township, Hancock County, and was a good student, receiving high marks in spelling which was her favorite subject. She attended Corwith High School and played coronet in the band. She met her future husband, Clifford Howlett while walking downtown Kanawha with a friend. After permission from her folks, she went to a movie with him in Kanawha that night! They dated throughout her senior year. Mildred graduated from Corwith High School in 1943. Following graduation, she moved to Des Moines and worked as a keypunch operator for National Travels Insurance Company. 

On June 4, 1944, she was married to Clifford at the Methodist Church in Kanawha. They lived on the family farm until Cliff enlisted in the Navy and left in January of 1945. She then lived with her folks during his training and later took a train out to California where he was stationed. She was able to live on base with him where she worked in Ship Services. After his discharge, they returned to Iowa, and lived with his folks until the “little pink house” was built across the lane. They were blessed with seven children. 

Mildred was a wonderful and loving mother to her children. She had a strong faith and relationship with her Lord. She was always a spiritual encourager. She took her children to Sunday school, confirmation, Bible school, and other church activities. She prayed daily for all of her children and grandchildren. Music was very important to her. She received many blessings through music and asked her family to do sing-alongs. Mildred was always encouraging her children in their activities. Whether it was wrestling, football, track, band, choir, piano lessons, or recitals, she was there. Mildred had many roles in life, one of them being a farmer’s wife. As busy as she was raising kids, she was very supportive, helping out on the farm…And God made a farmer’s wife! In April of 2022, she moved to Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City. She continued to enjoy chapel and church services on TV as well as her new friendships and playing bingo.

She and Cliff enjoyed their time together square dancing with the Rainbow Square Dancers Club. Vacations and camping were fun times for the family. Trips to the Ozarks, Colorado, Black Hills, or Minnesota fishing were just some of the destinations. A memorable and special vacation was the one to Hawaii which would be the last one for her and Cliff together. Later on, in years, she enjoyed traveling to Arizona and staying for the winter months. At first, she stayed with her friend, Florence in a park home in Mesa, then she shared her time staying with her brother, Don in Phoenix, and daughter, Diane, and family in Prescott, AZ. 

She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Britt, FLCW Circle, the neighborhood Birthday Club, and Britt Women’s Club. 

Mildred is survived by her children, Linda (Curt) Lenz of Kasson, MN, Cliff (Barb) Howlett of Britt, Dave (Pat) Howlett of Huxley, Jeanne (Dan) Dick of Garner, and Kurt (Terri) Howlett of Mason City; a son-in-law, Steve Barry of Prescott, AZ; grandchildren, David (Angela) Lewerke, April (Josh) Gross, Angela(Tommy) Reed, Autumn (Dustin) Butler, Laura (Dean) Lochner, Eric (Kami) Lenz, Elizabeth Howlett, Louie Howlett, Andrea (Jonathan) Baxter, Nathan (Alyssa) Dick, Robbie (Kaleigh) Howlett, Aaron (Kayla) Howlett, Lucas Howlett and Dawson Howlett; 32 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clifford; daughters, Edythe Howlett and Diane Barry; brothers, Glenn (Mid) Fisher, Donald (Mary) Fisher and Harold (Loretta) Fisher; brother-in-law, Jay (Nadine) Howlett; a niece, Carolyn Howlett; and nephew, Tony Johnson.