Dennis Howland, 69, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD.  Funeral service will be held on Monday, July 3, 2017 at 11:00AM at the United Methodist Church.  Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 2, 2017 at the United Methodist Church from 6-7PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00PM.

Dennis Arthur Howland, Denny to most, entered his forever home early Tuesday morning, June 27, 2017 of heart failure.  Dennis was born, December 22, 1947, in Littleton, NH, the second child of Arthur (John) Perley Howland and Vivian (Haynes) Howland.  The family moved back to Holyoke, CO at his second birthday and remained through his school years.  Denny graduated from Holyoke High School and went on to Colorado State University, graduating with a degree in Animal Science.  Upon graduation he entered the Army and was stationed in Virginia.  He was honorable discharged in 1972.  He started his career in the animal feed industry working in KS, WA and ending up in Winner, SD, where he remained.  During this time his first marriage ended in divorce, but to this union a daughter was born, Melanie Gwen. In 1981 he met Donna Faubion and they married on October 23, 1982.

Denny loved his work with animals, making sure they had "just the right ration" to try to get the results the producer was looking for.  As a change of pace, he became a Highland Potato Chip routeman for a time.  He did go back into the feed industry, but all the "small" producers were giving in to big operations and it just wasn't the same.  Working for the Co-op he helped with chemical and fertilizer application. This is where he kind of stumbled onto the business he started.  In 2002 he quit his job and purchased his first sprayer, truck and trailer.  H & P Partnership was started.  Working from the back yard of their home and a rented warehouse he and, Donna, grew the business.  2005 Denny and Donna purchased the partnership and became Howland Custom Application.  They purchased land to put up a building to work out of, housing the chemicals and storing equipment during the off season.  All the while making sure his customers were taken care of in a timely and efficient manner.  As he got older, he found he didn't want to be in the sprayer from dawn to dark and wanted to move into the dry fertilizer business.  The first building, along with the truck, trailer & sprayer was sold to Covey Custom Application and a second building was put up behind the first along with a dry fertilizer handling system.  The seasons work wasn't quite as time sensitive as before.  As much as he loved watching the animals grow from babies to maturity, he also loved to watch a field of planted seeds turn into thriving crop come harvest.

He wasn't a real "hobby" person, but did like to water ski when given the chance, golf, bowl and snow ski.  Prior to starting the business Denny and Donna would take part in the State Couple Golf Tournament during the summer.  Never a big winner, but had fun.  In his younger years after moving to Winner, he was a part of the A & W ball team.  When the grandkids came along he wanted them to learn to like snow skiing like himself.  So at an early age, he started them on the slopes & looked forward to going between Christmas and New Years for a visit and a couple days on skis.  Denny was a member and past president of the former local Jaycee chapter of Winner in the late 70's.  Growing up and his mother being one of 13, there was a card game going whenever any of them gathered.  Didn't have to ask twice if he wanted to "shuffle a few" as his uncles always put it.

Denny has an infectious laugh that could not be hid.  As long as you stood still for a moment and listened close, that laugh would lead right to where he was.  I know as he entered his forever home everybody there knew he was coming and relatives gone before him said, "he's here and get ready for a card game.  Denny will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather and hopefully as a caring, concerned business owner to all of the customers he has had over the years.

Denny is survived by wife Donna of 34 years;  daughter, Gwen and husband John and children Cody and Samantha Richards; great grandchildren, Brentlee and Brystol Richards all of Butte, MT; Sister Patty Garwatoski of Columbus, OH, Brother-in-law and wife Rick and Diane Faubion of Winner.  Many aunts, uncles nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Viv;  sister, Connie and brother Allen, Father and mother-in-law, Dick and Dorothy Faubion, uncles, aunts and cousins.