Howard Alvia McGrath was born Oct. 19, 1927, and passed away Nov. 1, 2012. Howard was born to Alvia and Olive-Vene McGrath in Powell, South Dakota. As a boy he grew up on his mother's homestead ranch. When he was 10 years old, his mother passed away, and the next year his father was killed in a tornado. He then went to live with his sister, Gertrude Stearn, in Idaho. A year later she passed away. He then returned to South Dakota to live with his sisters Margaret Baker and Julie Dorothy until he graduated from high school in 1947.
In high school he excelled at sports where he earned the nickname "Flash," which he went by his entire adult life as well. Howard entered the United States Army in 1950 during the Korean War. He was discharged from the Army in 1953. He then served in the South Dakota National Guard.
On April 15, 1954, Howard married the love of his life Elinor King in Rapid City, South Dakota. Together they made their home in Philip, South Dakota, where together they raised five children. They lived in Philip until Howard retired from Scotsman's Ind. in 1991. They then moved to Battle Mountain, Nevada, to be closer to their children.
Howard is survived by his wife, Elinor; children; Clara (Lyle) Hamilton, Linda (Howard) Thiesse, Diane (Jerry) Engelson, Cheryl (Gordon) Hunt, and Daniel (Julie) McGrath; grandchildren; Judi Trobee, Shane Szarkowski, Brian (Samme) Engelson, Jerome (Katrina) Engelson, Teri (Chris) Spring, Carrie (Ryan) Hunt-Rayle, Tiffany (Dave) Ghering, Randi (Mike) Hunt-Schwartz, Marcie (Pat) Richards, Kheidi McGrath, Heather Allard, Samantha Allard; great grandchildren Breven Engelson, Ryan, Kaylen, Macyn, Elijah Engelson, Mikey Spring, Christopher, Mattie Rayle, Noah, Emma, Eli Ghering, Rob, Rylee Hamilton, Easton Schwartz.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Bessie Wright, Gertrude Stearns, Margaret Baker, Julie Dorothy, brother; Edward McGrath, daughter Elizabeth McGrath, son; John McGrath, grandson; Scott Hamilton, and great granddaughter Alexis Rayle.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations toward a memorial bulletin board that will be at the Battle Mountain General Hospital nursing home. Please send to 635 Birch Court, Battle Mountain, NV 89820, or contact Diane at 775-455-5368.
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