Obituary of Howard Willard DeMotts

Howard Willard DeMotts, 100, of St. Cloud, Minnesota passed away peacefully in the hospice unit of the St. Cloud VA Medical Center on Good Friday, March 29, 2024. He was a devout Christian and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. He will be missed dearly.

Howard grew up on a farm near Waupun, Wisconsin, the son of John and Jennie DeMotts. He loved growing up on the farm and often told stories of his adventures during that time.

He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, where he met Janet VandeKieft. They married in July 1944. He joined the Army Air Corps as a flight officer. He flew as a bombardier/navigator on the B-17 “Flying Fortress” in the 751st Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force out of Glatton Air Base, England. He successfully completed 35 missions.

After his military service, he returned to Iowa and graduated from Drake University with a degree in criminology. He and Janet moved to Klemme, Iowa where they both taught school, before becoming co-owners of a furniture store. He went on to work for Farm Bureau Insurance in Cedar Rapids as a claims adjuster. He enjoyed traveling throughout Iowa and meeting people. The family moved to Richfield, MN where he worked for 30 years at Mutual Service Insurance. He was promoted to the director of advertising. After retiring from MSI, he started his own consulting company, Twin Pines Advertising. He was proud to have won a national advertising award, the OBIE, for his work with MADD.

Howard and Janet built a lake home in Perham, MN where they enjoyed their retirement in the summer. They wintered in North Port, FL. Howard was a long time member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, MN. He enjoyed playing golf, tennis, hiking, walking, traveling the U.S. and around the world, and spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his son John DeMotts (Anne), Diane DeMotts Riedesel (Lynn), grandchildren Matthew and Jamie DeMotts, several nieces, nephews, stepgrandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life was held at a party for his 100th birthday on June 3rd, 2023.

He will have a private burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on April 23, 2024.