Howard Alfred Ruotsalainen, son of William and Emma (Kinnunen) Ruotsalainen, was born December 8, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up and received his education at Lake Norden, graduating from Lake Norden High School. Howard entered the U.S. Army and served overseas during World War II and was involved in the Battle Of The Bulge and the Normandy Invasion. After the war he entered the U.S. Air Force and served for 25 years including a tour in Viet Nam. He was united in marriage to Marjorie A. Goldberg on December 19, 1956, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Howard retired from the Air Force on June 1, 1971, and they lived in California for a short time before moving to Castle Rock, Washington. Marjorie died in November of 2006 and Howard returned to Lake Norden in February of 2007. He died on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at Lake Norden at the age of 85 years, 4 months and 20 days.

He enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting.

Grateful for having shared his life are his brother Roger Ruotsalainen and his wife Marilyn of Cumming, GA; a sister-in-law, Barbara Ruotsalainen of Lake Norden; and several nieces and nephews.

Howard was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers, Robert and Clifford and one sister Olga.

No funeral services will be held and burial will be in Black Hills National Cemetery at a later date.