Howard Murray Barnard

Howard Murray Barnard, age 90, formerly of Rigby and Aberdeen, passed away Sunday July 12, 2015 at The Gables of Ammon. Howard was born October 22, 1924 in Beatrice, Nebraska to Murray Barnard and Mary Epp Barnard. He attended Rural Gage County Schools and Graduated from Beatrice High School. He married Elsie Marie Jantzen November 28, 1946 in Beatrice, Nebraska. They were blessed with 7 children. Howard attended the Methodist, Mennonite Churches in Nebraska, and the Mennonite Church in Aberdeen, where he participated in the Men’s Prayer Breakfast; he also attended Bethel Baptist Church and Crown of Life Church in Rigby. Howard devoted his life to serving Jesus Christ. He never missed worship or a Bible study opportunity until health issues interfered with his full participation. Howard grew up a farm boy and after high school he farmed and milked cows in partnership with his parents for a few years. Then he worked at various jobs feeding pigs, milking cows, a feed sales/ delivery route, washing/detailing cars, farm labor and other jobs until he went to work at Dempster Industries where windmills and machinery were manufactured. They bought 40 acres South of Beatrice; and farmed it, raised children, milked cows and raised pigs in addition to his full-time work at Dempster. They sold out in Nebraska in March of 1957 and moved their family to Aberdeen, Idaho where he worked for other farmers, potato warehouses, the local feed store, and farmed rented land until they purchased 70 acres in 1973. They raised grain and hay, kept chickens for meat and eggs, milked one or more cows, raised calves for beef, and grew a vegetable garden. In October of 2003, they moved to Teton Village in Rigby. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge about farming, cattle, and gardening. In his last years, as health allowed, he helped with chores at his daughters’ and sons’ places and provided transportation to needy neighbors and friend. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Barnard of Ammon: daughters, Saundra (Dale) Jones of Roberts; Garoldene “Geri” (Brian) Hetrick of Pocatello; sons, Keith (Mary) Barnard of Toquerville, Utah; Joel (Dawn) Barnard of Graham, Washington; Lynn (Jeannie) Barnard of Elko, Nevada; Mark (Brenda) Barnard of Hermiston, Oregon; sister, Laura Franz of Beatrice, Nebraska; 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by parents, a daughter, Yvonne Louise, sister, Anna Louise Jantzen, and a grandson, Alan Briggs. Funeral services will be Friday, July 17th 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crown of Life Lutheran Church, 3856 East 300 North, Rigby. The family will visit with friends prior to services at the church from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. Friends and family wishing to contribute to a memorial of Howard may donate to the Crown of Life Church Outreach Program.