Mildred Louise (Howard) Herda , 88, Kongsberg, ND, passed away December 1st 2017, surrounded by family in Trinity Hospital.

Mildred Howard was born on December 18, 1928, on a farm called the Broder place in rural McHenry County, North Dakota to Ernest L. & Caroline (Schmidt) Howard-Bluhm. She was reared on the family homestead and attended rural one-room schoolhouses. She always claimed she went from the 1st Grade to the 3rd grade in one year! She did work for area farmers and housewives helping with crops and childcare, laundry, baking, cleaning, gardening, etc. Times were tough in those daysshe claimed she worked one whole summer for a local farmer and ended up with a comb and a rooster (and it was too tough to eat!).

She met the love of her life Raymond Herda, while roller skating at Strawberry Lake in McLean County. Raymond and Mildred were married February 2, 1947, at the parsonage in Kongsberg, ND. Raymond bought the license and Mildred paid the preacher! They farmed on the Herda family farm South of Kongsberg all their life. They raised many animals (cattle, sheep, pigs) chickens (sold eggs for groceries in Butte) even turkeys to sell to the Minot grocery stores, along with grain farming and hay-making. Five children were the result of this union: Sheryl, Ronald, Gail, Connie, and Brenda. Raymond and Mildred were married for 59 yearsRay passed away in February, 2006.

Mildred had the biggest heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand. She mowed the cemeteries for both Kongsberg & Ruso for many years. She could mow and rake hay, milk the cows, butcher chickens, can the vegetables, and still have supper on the table (or out in the field). She was known throughout the country for her famous caramel rolls and homemade bread. Milly-(the Hillbilly-as she called herself) loved to go barefoot said when they were kids they went barefoot all summer and got a new pair of shoes in the fall for school. Mildred was a life-long member of St. John Lutheran Church in Kongsberg - where she served many years as Secretary-Treasurer for the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She spent many years saving 'Mites for Missions'.

Mildred and Raymond's loving family includes: son-In-Law: LaVerne Anderson Voltaire, ND; son: Ronald Herda, Hume, MO; daughters, Gail (Daniel) Berg, Connie (John) Plesuk, and Brenda (Steve) Nush all of Minot, ND; grandchildren: Earl Anderson, Voltaire, Tina (Gerald) Gordon, Carlisle PA, Neil (Jen) Anderson, Minnesota, Ronald (Ashlie) Herda, Taberville, MO, & Ryan (Kylie) Herda, Hume, MO, Jennifer Berg, Casper, WY, Kerri (Cory) Mattern, Chelsea (Derek) Brown, Minot, ND, Sara Plesuk, Bellevue, NE, Eva (Shawn) Biddinger, Minot, ND, John Plesuk, Sacramento CA, John Nush, Jessica (Matt Holtz) Nush Minot, ND; To count 21 great-grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren; sister: Carol (Richard) Cogdill, Des Lacs, ND; brother: Arnold (Leona) Howard, Rapid City, SD; sisters-in-law: Gladys Howard, Velva, ND, Verna Howard, Garrison, ND and Beverly Howard, Derby, KS.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Raymond; daughter, Sheryl (LaVerne) Anderson; grandson, Steven Berg; brothers: Leslie, Harold, and Everett Howard, and sister, Frieda Purdue.

Funeral Service: 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 313 Main St, Max, ND.

Interment: St. John Cemetery, Kongsberg, ND
Visitation: Monday, December 4, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Thomas Family Funeral Home.
Memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church in Kongsberg, ND, or to an organization of the donor's choice.