Obituary - Luetta M. Howell

Luetta M. Nelson Howell

Luetta M. Nelson Howell of Lewiston passed away Dec. 15, 2011, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.

On May 11, 1924, Luetta was born in Moscow to Charles and Ethel Nelson. Early in Luetta's life, she moved with her family to Juliaetta, where she attended school. On Dec. 18, 1940, Luetta married Willis (Bill) Howell of Avon. They had one daughter.

The Howells made their home in Juliaetta, where the family was well-known in the area as they owned and operated Howell's Grocery. After Bill's death in 1964, Luetta found it difficult to continue running the store without him. In approximately 1966 she sold the store and soon thereafter moved to Clarkia. She lived in Clarkia until the early '80s, when she moved to Lewiston to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

She was living at Lewiston Rehabilitation and Care Center at the time of her death. A special thank-you to all of those who cared for Luetta during her time there. The family will be forever grateful for your help and kindness.

Luetta enjoyed spending time working in her yard and gardens, and was known to many as a meticulous homemaker. She tirelessly tended her flowers and truly took pleasure in refurbishing furniture for her home. One of her favorite things to do was to spend as much time as possible with her two grandsons. She would call and ask if the boys could spend the weekend with her in Clarkia, or she would ask them to stay for a week or so with her in the summer. This was a very special time for her as well as for her grandsons. When her husband was alive, she especially had fond memories of their time spent camping in their RV, boating, and fishing at Chatcolet Lake.

Surviving Luetta are her daughter; grandson and great-grandson; and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willis (Bill) Howell; her parents, Charles and Ethel Nelson; her siblings, Clifford Nelson, Clayton Nelson, Carol Nelson Keimig and Lloyd Ripley; grandson Doug Taylor; and nephews Vernon Keimig and Burton Dennis.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. today at the Moscow City Cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the charity of one's choice, in memory of Luetta.

Lewiston Tribune, December 22, 2011, p. 5C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock