Howard Andrew Kent, 82

Howard “Howie” Andrew Kent Jr. was born at the Bonners Ferry Community Hospital on August 15, 1942, to Howard and Lila (Grunerud) Kent. 

The Kents settled in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in the 1890s. Howard’s mother’s parents, the Gruneruds, arrived in the 1920s. Howard attended South Side Grade School, Valley View, and the downtown high school. He graduated in 1960 and joined the Navy that same year. He was discharged in 1963 after serving as a Hospital Corpsman at the Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington. He went to work for Safeway in Bonners Ferry.

He married Donna English. Donna taught at South Side Grade School. Their first child, Lynnette was born in 1964. During this time, Howard began attending North Idaho College. After two years, they moved to Moscow, Idaho so he could attend the University of Idaho, where he finished his degree in secondary education.

Upon returning to Bonners Ferry, Howard went back to work at Safeway, shortly after he was offered a teaching position with Boundary County School District. Their second child, Robert, was born in 1973. Howard and Donna obtained a residence on McCall Street. Howard continued teaching first at Valley View, and then at the high school, until retiring in 2005. After retirement, Howard spent many days at the museum and taking his daily loop drives. 

Howard is survived by his beloved wife, Donna (English) Kent of 60 years; daughter, Lynnette Kent; granddaughter, Jessica Karr (Chris Edmondson); son, Robert Kent; daughter-in-law, Holly (Olson) Kent; granddaughters and great-grandchildren, Kelsey (Paige), Whitney (Casey Jo), Hannah (Emerson), and Bridget Olson; and many cherished cousins.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Howard (Tuffy) Kent 1981 and Lila Kent 2006; and a brother-in-law, Ken English 2024. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Boundary County Historical Society & Museum. 

A celebration of life will be held at the Boundary County Museum on Saturday, November 23 from 1-3 p.m. To leave a message or memory for the family go to bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family.