Howard

Howard with Christine at our wedding in 2008

     Howard Norgaard went to be with Jesus today.  He will be greatly missed by his family and the Becker Baptist Church family (in which I am a part).  Everyone who knew Howard could tell you great stories about his time on earth, but this is my blog, so I'm only going to write mine.  First of all, Howard and Elizabeth were an amazing couple - so pretty much all my stories are Howard AND Elizabeth stories.  They were a great team.
     Howard and Elizabeth came to Becker right around the same time I did.  I arrived in the fall of 2003.  They joined our church family right around the same time that I did.  I always enjoyed visiting with them in the fellowship hall after church.  They were always happy to talk to me too.  They both loved to talk.  We had a lot in common.  We all loved music, books, travel, and teaching.  Both had been teachers and later Howard had been a principal in Madelia.  Madelia was only about 30 miles from Mountain Lake, where I had been living the three years prior to moving to Becker.  Also, Howard and Elizabeth lived in Africa for quite a few years and I LOVED hearing stories of international travel.  My college roommate grew up in Cameroon and Senegal, so I had stories I'd heard from her to share with them too.  
      Because Howard and Elizabeth had a background in education, they showed interest in my life as a teacher.  They asked questions and shared ideas and made me feel like what I was doing was truly important.  I felt like they were cheerleaders in my life as a teacher.  They visited my classroom a few times when I was doing my unit on Africa with my second graders.  They told stories and showed some video of themselves in Africa.  The kids loved it!
     Before meeting my husband, Todd, I was roommates with my friend, Angie.  Howard and Elizabeth were HUGE fans of Angie.  Sometimes Angie and I would go for bike rides and end up at Howard and Elizabeth's house and then sit and visit with them for hours on end.  Sometimes we had them over to our place for meals or they'd invite us over for meals.  It was always a delightful time.
     When Todd and I began dating we decided that our first time appearing in public as a couple would be at the church picnic at the park in August of 2007.  I remember sitting down at the table beside Todd at lunchtime and looking up and there was Howard giving me the biggest grin and a thumbs up!  He approved of the match.
     The weekend of the wedding I needed a place for my friend, Stephanie to stay so she wouldn't have to stay in a hotel.  She was one of the violinists for the wedding.  Howard and Elizabeth were happy to host.  Stephanie told me they stayed up quite late visiting.  Howard had to show her the violin he had that belonged to his dad.
     I had a neat experience with that very violin too.  Howard had told me about it and I offered to tune it and see how it sounded.  So, I brought it home and did just that.  It sounded great!  So, after practicing on it for a while I brought it to church.  At that point I was playing violin with a worship team.  That particular Sunday I played Howard's dad's violin with the worship team songs.  It was a surprise for Howard and he was so pleased.  I always felt appreciated by Howard for my music.
     I wasn't the only one who felt appreciated by Howard for musical gifts.  I saw him time and time again go out of his way to thank someone for sharing music with the congregation.  At one point I put together a group of four girls to sing the song, "Just The Way You Are" for special music.  Howard heard us practicing and practically begged the girls to come in at the beginning of the Sunday School hour to sing the song for the class that Howard was teaching.  The song fit perfectly with his lesson.  He thanked the girls over and over again.
     Another thing Howard and I had in common was that we both went on mission trips to visit our sister church in Ukraine.  I went a year or two before Howard.  Howard grew to love the same people that had touched my heart a few years earlier.  I particularly think of my friend and translator, Julia.  Howard could not say enough good things about how helpful and kind and proficient she was.  Howard loved people.
     Howard loved his family.  He delighted in being a dad and grandpa.  He was so proud of each of them.  A parent should never have to bury their own children, but unfortunately, two of Howard and Elizabeth's three children have already died.  I remember when their son died.  After I heard about it, I hopped on my bike and went over to Howard and Elizabeth's house.  I knocked on the door and asked if they'd like company.  I was welcomed so warmly.  I remember Howard saying something like, "I'm so glad you've come.  Thank you."  I listened that day.  Story after story they told.  Wonderful stories.  The time flew by.  I felt honored to be the listener.  It mattered to them that I was there to listen.  I know for certain God led me there that day.
     I remember a similar situation where I felt prompted by God to be there.  Howard and Elizabeth had a daughter in California who had cancer.  On the day of her surgery I was out and about running errands.  There was a store that sold single yellow roses.  I got one for Howard and Elizabeth and brought it to their home that day.  It meant so much to them.  Elizabeth told me how much peace that single yellow rose brought her that day.  I'm so glad.
     I wish I could give Elizabeth a yellow rose for every moment she is going to miss Howard.  They were a wonderful couple.  My heart hurts for her.  I am so glad they will be reunited in Heaven one day.

The 40s group from church visited Howard and Elizabeth's house on a scavenger hunt in 2014