Howard Martin Fish

  Howard Martin Fish, 98, of Fedora, South Dakota passed away on Monday, November 20, 2017 at Bethel Lutheran Home, Madison, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 2:00pm, Saturday, November 25, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard with the Rev. Warren Uecker officiating. The interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will begin Friday, November 24, 2017 at noon with the family present from 5pm to 7pm at Willoughby Funeral Home, Howard

Howard Martin Fish was born September 10, 1919 to Albert and Judith (Friland) Fish of Fedora, SD.  He was the fourth of five children.  Howard attended District #26 country school and graduated from Fedora High School in 1938. 

In 1942, he was drafted into the US Army, serving in India and Burma (Myanmar) where he worked to build the Ledo Road.  He was honorably discharged from the Service in 1946.

Prior to serving in the Army, Howard worked for a time as a hired hand for a farmer near Blue Earth, MN.  After the war, he married that farmer's daughter.  Howard and Doris J. Boettcher were married February 14, 1953 in Blue Earth.  They settled near the Fish family farm, and had three children, Wayne, Gail and Becky.  Howard farmed in partnership with his brother, Harvey, near Fedora for many decades.

Howard lost his wife to cancer in 1986, and his house to a tornado in 1992.  Following the tornado, he resettled in Fedora until moving to Whispering Winds in Howard in 2008.

Howard was well known for his generosity, his dry wit, and his love of memorizing and reciting limericks and poetry.  He made a positive impression on all who knew him.  He was a wonderful example of humanity and humility, and will be deeply missed.

Howard was preceded in death by his wife Doris, sisters Margaret Gieschen and Helen Schultz, brothers Clinton and Harvey Fish, beloved sisters- and brothers-in-law, and cousins. He is survived by son Wayne Fish (Sioux Falls, SD), daughter Gail (Shannon) Macklin (Flagstaff, AZ), daughter Becky DeMayo (Peoria, AZ), grandchildren Cole Macklin, Holly Macklin, Ethan DeMayo and Simon DeMayo, beloved sisters-in law, nieces and nephews.

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