Howard Lee

Howard "Howie" Charles Lee was born June 18, 1939, in Saint Paul, to Howard Clyde Lee and Hortense Elsie Berg, both of Minnesota. His father made his living as a plumber and had ancestral ties to England. His mother, a Swede, worked as a telephone operator before marrying. She quit working outside the home to become a housewife and mother to Howard, Roger and Joan. Howie spoke of and shared fond memories of all phases of his life. He had a free and fun childhood in the Saint Paul neighborhood in which he lived, focusing on family, friends, a paper route, various activities, hobbies and his education. He attended the Benjamin Drew School, Hancock Elementary School and was a 1957 Woodrow Wilson High School graduate. He loved visiting relatives, nature and animals on the family farm located in Rock Creek Township outside of Pine City, Minnesota. He carried on and participated in these same interests until his death, as much as he could, enlisting others along the way. He has said he had a happy life because he did what made him happy: hunting; sailing; canoeing; bicycling; playing hockey; music; going camping; piloting airplanes; honing his skills as a marksman; an unending appreciation for motor vehicles; civic/volunteer opportunities, and; many clubs and organizations such as his high school classmate reunion committee. He married Earline "Earl" Mary Muggley in July 1962. Having been drafted into the military (U.S. Army), Howie served his country with Earline, including at the missile base in White Sands, New Mexico. He was a Patriot. Howie and Earl had three children, Steven, Stacy and Kristin. He continued his activities with them when possible, focusing on developing active and busy children who had their own interests for which the couple became involved, as well, as group leaders and coaches. Similarly, he engaged with his nieces, nephew, grand-children and great-grandchildren who continued to turn his world as long as he would let him. He supported his family as a MNDoT employee beginning as a surveyor of Minnesota highways, later becoming a semaphore expert. He ended his career with MNDoT as a consultant to the next generation of highway workers and engineers. Primarily, Howie was a life-long student of the Bible. He was a saved Christian who shared The Word freely and believed in the power of prayer. Later in his life, he found support in the faith community at Crosswinds Community Church in Stillwater, Minnesota. Howard Charles died Aug. 26, 2020, in The Pillars Hospice Home, Oakdale, Minnesota, after a brief battle with cancer. He was ready and wanted to go home to Heaven to be with Earline and Steve who heartbreakingly died before he did in 2017 and 2012. NEWSPAPER OBITUARY: Lee Howard Charles  Age 81 of White Bear Lake Loving Husband, Dad, Grandpa & Great Grandpa Went home on August 26, 2020. Was a lifelong student of the Bible and committed to the Lord our Savior. Preceded in death by wife Earline; son Steven;parents Howard & Hortense; brother Roger and sister Joan Heller. Survived by daughters Stacy (Tim) Lewellyn of Alma, WI and Kristin (Greg) Fry of Lake Elmo;daughter-in-law Paige Lee; 7 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren and many other family & friends. Retired after 35 years with MNDOT. Public visitation Saturday,August 29th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am with private family service and burial at Roselawn Cemetery to follow. You can watch the service on MuellerMemorial.com after Monday, August 31st. Memorials preferred to St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital, military organizations, or cancer research.  SERVICE RECORDING: If you were unable to attend the services in person, you may view the recording of the service at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEheaM6WFpY&t=25s (copy and paste link into internet browser)