Howard Black, 85, finally got his wish to "go home" surrounded by his family at his north Fargo home Thursday, January 9th 2014. Howard Earl Black was born June 24th, 1928 to Clifford and Lotty (Bjugstad) Black in the village of Venlo, Ransom County, North Dakota. He went to rural one-room elementary schools, and earned $2 a month for his family by carrying a bucket of water to the school daily, occasionally arriving with the water frozen over. Eventually the family moved to Anselm, and Howard went to high school in Sheldon, ND, where he played basketball, football and baseball for the Sheldon Shadows. He graduated in 1946, and was the valedictorian of his class.