Mass of Christian Burial for Carrie Howe, age 99, of McLaughlin will be at 11 AM MT, Friday, January 11, 2013 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in McLaughlin. Burial will be in the McLaughlin City Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. A Rosary service will be held at 7 PM Thursday at the church. Visitation will be Thursday from 1PM to 3PM at Kesling Funeral Home. Carrie passed away Friday, January 4, 2013 at her home.

Caroline (Carrie) Kraft was born and baptized Oct.18,1913 at Beaver Creek, ND (which is 12 miles north of Hague) She was the second oldest child of John & Christine (Schweitzer) Kraft. She had six brothers & six sisters. Carrie then moved to Glencross, SD with her parents and later lived in Trail City & Timber Lake. She attended school up to the 8th. grade and was confirmed at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glencross.

Carrie was married to Donald Howe on Feb. 15, 1935 in McLaughlin. They were suppose to be married on the 14th. (Valentine's Day) but the train that had the rings ordered from Sears & Roebuck got stuck out by Walker, SD in a blizzard. They lived on the family farm east of town (where Dad had lived since he was 2 1/2 yrs. old.) They had a dairy farm, milking cows and selling milk door to door at 10 cents a quart & 10 cents for a pint of cream.

Carrie was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Extension Extenders Club, Altar Society, hospital auxiliary, sew an sew (where she mended the holes in our socks & pants),Circle C Cowbelles, Senior Citizens, den mother, senior citizens kitchen band, cooked & served the Better McLaughlin Club for 20 years. She baked as many as 60 pies in one day for the sales barn & bowling alley. Mom was the Queen of McLaughlin 100 yr. Centennial. (which she was so proud of)

In the 1980's, when Fr. Jochim Schieber, OSB, and the Benedictine Sisters served in McLaughlin, Carrie joined their spirituality by becoming a Benedictine Oblate, along with Norma Crossett, Frances Kramer and Sue Kramer. Carrie loved going to mass every weekday morning and being with Fr. Ron & Fr. John until the last six months when her eyesight started failing her. Through the years she loved Monsignor O'Connel, Fr. Kerry, Fr. Jim, Fr. Steve and Fr. Tony. Everyday at 11:00 we would take her to the Senior Nutrition Center for her noon meal and then play cards with her friends until 2:30.

On her 99th. birthday Dallas Schott & Jake Kraft took her, Don & Marlene up for a ride in a helicopter and she just loved it. Only thing wrong was that it wasn't long enough. Last year Dallas took her in his corn picker cutting the 16 ft. corn on the Howe land.

Carrie had broken her right hip on Nov.27th. & in St. A's Hosp. in Bismarck, where it had been set, but then suffered two strokes on her left side. She was moved to the Golden Living Center in Mobridge on Dec.7th. On Christmas Eve she wanted to go home so she was brought back to the farm. Where Wayne Thompson, Tommi Kay, Sharon & Ed took care of her up to her death on Jan.4, 2013.

Survivors are two sons Don & wife Marlene of Spearfish, Charles & wife Dale of Mesa, AZ and Mobridge, daughter Sharon and husband Edward Walker of McLaughlin. One sister Christine Fitzgerald of Spokane, WA and one brother Jerry Kraft & wife Sharron of Mount Vernon, WA. Also 17 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Carrie was preceded in death by her husband Donald on March 28, 2000. Two sons Vern & Tom, one son in infancy and one grandson Troy Lee Thompson. Also her parents, five brothers and five sisters.