Mae Howes, 101, of Thief River Falls, MN died Sunday, August 16, 2009 at Oakland Park Communities.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with Pastor David Fish officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at the funeral home.

Mae Elizabeth Back was born October 11, 1907 at Argyle, MN on the family farm the daughter of John and Hilda (Anderson) Back. She grew up and attended country school in Wanger Township, Marshall County, MN and graduated Argyle High School in 1926.

Following high school Mae went to Nurses Training at St. Lukes Hospital in Duluth, MN where she met Eugene Cochran Howes. The couple was eventually married in 1930 at City Hall in Duluth. To this union three children were born, Marland, Donald and Ilene. They made their home in West Duluth where Mae stayed home to raise the children.

The family lived in several places in Minnesota including Barnum, Duluth, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, International Falls and in 1973 made their final move to Thief River Falls. They moved to Thief River Falls so that Mae could care for her parents. She was instrumental in starting and running the Seventh-Day Adventist Community Center. She worked there for many years, many hours a day, and six days a week. She was there right up until the time of her passing.

She was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Thief River Falls and was very active. She also ran their yearly bake sale. Mae was named Outstanding Senior Citizen in Pennington County on July 17, 1987. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and crafts of all kinds.

Survivors include children, Marland (Dallas) Howes of Anoka, MN, Donald (Margaret) Howes of Hoyt Lakes, MN and Ilene (Ronald) Ventrella of Hoyt Lakes, MN; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gene in 1987; parents; five brothers; and one sister.

Organist: Ida Nordvall
Soloist: Diane Johnson
Selections: Amazing Grace , What A Friend We Have In Jesus & In The Garden
Casketbearers: Maes Grandchildren
Honorary Casketbearers: Kenton Hicks and Ronald Meekma