Howard “Howie” Andrew Kent Jr., 82, was born at Bonners Ferry Community Hospital on August 15, 1942, to Howard and Lila (Grunerud) Kent. A beloved teacher and historian of the place that shaped him, he passed away the evening of November 8, 2024.
In honor of the family’s request and grateful for the honor, the Boundary County Historical Society board and Boundary County Museum staff will open the museum’s doors open-house style from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 23, for a Celebration of the Life of Howard Kent, whose legacy as one of Boundary County’s preeminent and most prolific historians and teachers has now become an indelible part of the history of the community he loved and served for his lifetime. His historical research of this amazing place and the sharing of it was his joy … his passion … and a boon to all who do now and will ever love Boundary County.
Howard Kent is and will ever be one of his hometown’s favorite sons, and on behalf of his wife, Donna, their children Lynnette and Rob and the grandchildren and great grandchildren they bequeathed their parents, all are invited to share memories, laughter, tears and smiles.
The Kents settled in Bonners Ferry 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 and 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 so he could attend University of Idaho, where he finished his degree in Secondary Education.
Upon returning to Bonners Ferry, Howard went back to work at Safeway, but shortly after he was offered a teaching position with Boundary County School District 101 and he became one of the storied students of this county’s public school system who goes to college and comes home to teach in the halls wherein they learned; to give students who followed the benefits of a teacher who epitomized the possible. He didn’t just teach. Howard Kent inspired … a humble and amiable teacher who never stopped being a student, never lost the fun and excitement of learning or the joy of sharing all that amazed him with others.
Howard and Donna’s second child, Robert, was born in 1973, and the Kents took up residence in their home overlooking 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.
His legacy of sharing the lore of a small but amazing part of our planet will abide for as long as Boundary County Museum visitors have questions or conduct research … for it will be his work and his words that will inform coming generations of the quiet and simple greatness of this singular place.
Howard is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Donna (English) Kent, 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 as well as many cherished cousins.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents Howard (Tuffy) Kent, 1981, and Lila Kent, 2006, and brother-in-law Ken English, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Boundary County Historical Society & Museum, PO Box 808, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.