Howard Martin APLAND 85, peacefully joined the Lord Jesus Christ on March 13, 2003. He was born October 17, 1917 in Bergen, North Dakota, the son of Martin Ole Apland and Anna Maude Apland (nee Anderson). When the depression closed down his father's bank in North Dakota, Howard traveled with his father around the country, settling in Arlington, WA. The rest of the family followed, and Howard attended Pacific Lutheran College. Howard returned to the midwest where he met and married Clara Goldmann in 1942. He served in World War II and then obtained his Masters of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska. Upon the death of his mother in 1952, he moved his wife and four children from Nebraska to Washington State in order to be near his father, who lived in Marysville and then in Everett. Howard and Clara purchased a home on five acres in Swan's Trail, a rural community east of Everett. Howard worked at Boeing as an industrial engineer, was treasurer of the water district at Swan's Trail, served his church, Good Shepherd Lutheran, and with Clara raised the children. In 1966, Howard and Clara and the younger children still at home moved to the Greenlake area of Seattle. There they attended Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church and the two youngest children graduated from high school. In 1973, the couple moved to Renton where they were members of Renton Lutheran Church and where Howard retired from Boeing. Howard and Clara were able to take trips to Europe, Panama and South America, Alaska, and the Caribbean, as well as visit their family and relatives around the U.S. Howard also traveled to Thailand with his son, Mark. Howard lovingly cared for Clara during the illness of her last years, until her death in 1996. In 1997, Howard married Clara Rebuck Slyter of Renton, a fellow church member. They also traveled, going to Hawaii, Israel, and the Caribbean, and visiting both her and his families around the country. They lived in contented matrimony, and Clara lovingly cared for him during his time of declining health. Howard also enjoyed the companionship of Clara's family, whom he grew to love. Howard died quietly at home with family present after a short bout with cancer. He is preceded in death by his first wife of 54 years, Clara Goldmann Apland, and his sisters, Naomi Monson and Ann Reagan, both of Seattle. He is survived by his second wife, Clara Apland of Renton, WA, by five children Paul Apland of Peyton, CO., Carolyn Reeder of Seattle, WA., Jean Gerfen of Eatonville, WA., James Apland of Gilroy, CA., and Mark Apland ofSnohomish, WA and by eight grandchildren and four great grand- children. Services will be held Monday, March 17, at 10 a.m. at Renton Lutheran Church, with Internment at 1 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Everett.

Published in The Seattle Times on Mar. 16, 2003