Ormond Eugene Howell
Ormond Eugene Howell passed away in his sleep at his home in Caldwell on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Ormond was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather, brother, and dear friend.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in the Caldwell 14th Ward Chapel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 11792 Linden Road in Caldwell. His family will gather and greet friends at a Visitation from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and there will be a luncheon at the church following the services. Burial will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery at 2pm.
Ormond was born January 21, 1938, in Nampa, ID to Orvid Eugene and Vera Margaret Howell, the tenth child to a blended family of 13, the first surviving son to carry the Howell name. Early in his life the family relocated from their home in Nampa where the sugar factory sits to a small family farm on W. Pine Ave and Ten Mile in Meridian. Ormond had many fond memories of life on their small farm – riding the work horses Cap and Bally, skating on the pond in the winter, playing Monopoly for days at a time, and enjoying home cooked meals and popcorn and fudge. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1956. While there, he played football, enjoyed running distance races and relays, was involved in drama and debate, and was also elected to Idaho Boys State.
Ormond attended Ricks College in 1956 – 1958 where he ran on the track team. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States Mission from 1959 – 1961. After returning home, he attended BYU graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in 1963. He returned home to begin his life’s work in education as an elementary school teacher, mostly teaching 5th and 6th grades, a career that would span 37 years. In Boise, Ormond met Cheryl Wilson at a Friday night Dance. The rest is history, they were married for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple June 5, 1965. Ormond and Cheryl enjoyed 38 years of sharing life’s joys, sorrows, and blessings with their six children. He was the best father that young children could ever wish for. He took his kids everywhere with him. Whether working late nights at the school listening to Elvis, Fats Domino or Neil Diamond, riding with dad on a bicycle made for 4, driving beat truck during the harvest, playing Fox and Geese in the snow, riding on the hood of the car down our driveway, or singing around the Christmas tree, dad made sure his children grew up with fun, laughter, and great memories!
Ormond had many passions in life. He was a true Renaissance Man, pursuing interests in family, faith, politics, history, sports, inventing, and writing. He completed his Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration at the College of Idaho in 1979. Our father had an active, imaginative, and inquisitive mind. He ran for the State Senate three times, was Teacher of the Year twice, a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, received the State of Idaho-Governors “Brightest Star Award” in 2008, had many inventions, and authored both fictional and non-fictional novels. He was civic minded, loved teaching young people, and tried to make a difference in the world. He will be loved and missed by many.
Ormond is survived by his wife Louise Christensen Howell and 5 children and spouses Lorinda Johnson Humphreys (Tony), Darin Howell (Jennifer), Sharena Niblett (Joe), Chene Cram (Gary), and Tonya Stuart (Travis). Also survived by two sisters Jerrie Perry and Diana Winkelkotter, 23 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Orvid & Vera Howell, his first wife Cheryl Wilson Howell, a son Troy Howell (living spouse Mary), 3 brothers (Stan, Blair, and Delano) and 6 sisters (Helen, Elaine, Mildred, Orvidean, Eulalia, and Clarice).
We will all miss our dad, grandpa, brother, and special friend, but our hearts are filled with joy and the wonderful memories that he created for us.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.