Funeral Mass for Howard Novstrup, 86 of Sisseton, SD will be held on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 10:30 Am at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Sisseton, SD with the Rev. Fr. Norman Volk, OMI celebrant. Organist will be Colette Hull and song leader will be Sandi Jaspers. Pallbearers will be Aaron Novstrup, Allan Novstrup, Dale Novstrup, David Novstrup, Timothy Herron and Vern Novstrup. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Howard's Family and Friends. Interment will be the St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. There will be visitation on Sunday, May 9, 2010 from 2:00 to 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service at the Cahill Funeral Chapel.
Howard Novstrup was born on March 10, 1924 near Reeder, North Dakota. His parents Jake Novstrup and Anna Novstrup (Fiske) were ranchers and farmers in the area. During the drought of the 1930's his family travelled eastward in search of green grass for their livestock. They settled on a ranch seven miles west of Sisseton, South Dakota and north of Drywood Lake. There he met his future wife, Veronica Lentsch, the daughter of Frank and Susan Lentsch. During World War II, Howard was exempted from military service because the country needed farmers and food. During the war, he farmed and worked briefly in a shipyard in Seattle. Howard and Veronica were married on July 1, 1950. Howard and Veronica actively ranched and farmed in the Sisseton area until the early 1990's when he retired. He also worked a wide variety of jobs which included: sheep sheerer, livestock buyer, truck driver, earthmoving equipment operator, electrician, mechanic, carpenter and handyman. Over the course of his career his accomplishments included: operating a large cattle and feedlot operation, planting pine trees that exist today on the Sisseton Golf Course, helping to build several sections of the interstate highway system and many of the public housing projects throughout northeast South Dakota, and building two homes on the family farm south of Sisseton. His everyday actions spoke his beliefs' more clearly than any words could. He often said it is better to be out feeding the cows thinking about church than in church thinking about feeding cows. He believed that we are all here to help one another. Although he was never wealthy, his life greatly enriched all who knew him. Howard was an active voice for fair prices for farmers and was active in the National Farmers Organization during the 1960's. Having finished his work here on earth, Howard peacefully passed away on May 5th, 2010 at the Tekakwitha Living Center, Sisseton, SD.
Howard is survived by his wife, Veronica of Sisseton, SD; two sisters, Helen and husband, Robert Ramer of Iowa City, IA and Vernena Staab of Des Moines, WA; five children, Dale and Karen Novstrup of Edmonds, WA, Annette and Richard Wolfe of Moorhead, MN; Allan and Kathy Novstrup of Aberdeen, SD; Carol Herron of Fergus Falls, MN; and Vern and Ginger Novstrup of Ventura, CA; twelve grandchildren Krista Novstrup, Erika Novstrup, Lynn Wolfe, Linda Friez, David Novstrup, Shawn Flannery, Jennifer Flannery, Timothy Herron, Jedidia Herron, Jason Herron, Aaron Novstrup, and Austin Novstrup, and five great-grandchildren, Nicolas Flannery, Kara Flannery, Lucas Novstrup, Corwin Novstrup, and Andrew Friez.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents Jake and Anna; and one daughter Kathleen.