Howard F. Bier

Howard Floyd Bier was a gentleman, patriot, friend, loving husband and dedicated father and grandfather. Howard passed away on May 16, 2025 at Baptist Health & Rehab in Bismarck, ND.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, June 3, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 1919 N 2nd St., Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior. To view the service livestream, click this link Corpus Christi - YouTube

Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 3, at the Hazelton Catholic Cemetery, Hazelton.

We remember him as a man who was wise, kindhearted, thoughtful and caring. As he listened to you, you felt like the most important person in the world. Asking Howard for advice meant not getting a lecture but getting encouragement. We will feel his unconditional love forever.

Howard Floyd Bier was born August 20, 1919, in Bismarck, ND, and raised on the farm that was homesteaded by his father and grandfather in 1900. He attended Lincoln School #2, a one-room schoolhouse in Emmons County, then graduated from Hazelton High School in 1937. He earned an associate’s degree in electrical engineering from the ND School of Science in Wahpeton in 1939.

Howard farmed with his father until he was inducted into the Army in 1942 where he was assigned to the 1095th Signal Corp and trained in radar repair – a highly classified program at that time. Howard married Irene Foell in July 1943 while on leave from the Army. Two weeks later he shipped out of NYC bound for Africa.

Howard served overseas in Africa, Sicily and Italy for 27 months. He separated from the Army in 1945 and returned to North Dakota to his farm and his beautiful bride.

Howard was a progressive and successful farmer. If it needed fixing, he could fix it. If he didn’t have the part, he could make it. He could take a few steps in a recently plowed field and predict what yield he could expect – if the weather cooperated, of course. Home, until he retired, was the house he built in 1953 doing his own carpentry, plumbing, insulating, wiring and painting.

Howard spent a lifetime in service to his country and his community. He served on or lead more boards and committees than can responsibly be listed here. In 1958 he was elected to the North Dakota House of representatives where he served for fourteen years finishing as Speaker of the House. Service ran in his family as his grandfather, Lester Bailey, was a member of the Legislature in 1919, the year Howard was born.

In 1972 he and Irene started going to Mesa, AZ for the winters. Their next years were spent with both Howard and Irene serving on various state and national committees and traveling the world. After 45 years of marriage, Irene passed away in February 1988.

And then, love came looking for Howard again. Howard fell in love with and married Melvena Beahm McLeish in October 1988. For the second time Howard lived a wonderful life with a woman he loved. Melvena brought two wonderful sons, a couple of splendid daughters-in-law and the joy of grandchildren. After 37 years of marriage, Melvena passed away on March 6, 2025.

Howard’s moral compass always pointed true North and never wavered. His every decision was made with honesty and truth informed by his strong Catholic faith. He was a Renaissance man able to build fine furniture, create beautiful stained glass, quote and write poetry, juggle rocks, rewire anything electrical and have a soft-spot for cats. Of all of this, the most important thing in Howard’s life, the thing that mattered most to him, was family, and we grew up knowing that. He loved us with his heart and soul. He was simply the best.

It is with the utmost thanks, love and sadness that we say goodbye:

his children Jerry Bier, Susan (Neal Pointer) Bier, Dennis (Wendy Cater) Bier; step-children Jim (Yvonne) McLeish, Betty McLeish; grandchildren Claire, Jack and Drew Bier; step-grandchildren Stephanie (Mark Chanes) McLeish, Sarah (John) Funkhouser, Michael (Kimberly) McLeish, and Meriah (Michael) Harkavi; step-great-grandchildren James and Henry McLeish, and Corbin and Mavis Harkavi; numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to University of Mary - Irene Bier Scholarship Fund or the State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation.