Howard was born in Greensburg KS on May 24, 1925. His father E.M. Yost farmed in Greensburg and also later was a pastor at the Mennonite Church formed in 1932. Mother Emma gave birth to him at home -- probably so she could get right back to her farming chores. He grew up in Greensburg and attended school there. At age 20 he was on the way to propose to a nice young girl named Jean when he got cold feet. He literally turned his car around and decided to instead go on a blind date set up by his cousin Margaret Yoder to meet a beautiful 16 year old coed at Central High School/College in McPherson Kansas named Marjory Shupe. As they say…the rest is History. Howard married Marjory on September 21, 1947 just after she turned 18….no longer needing her parents’ permission to wed (although they were not objecting). The next 70 years were packed full of life for Howard and Marjory.
Son Gary came along in 1949, Son Bob in 1951, daughter Cheryl in 1952, and daughter Carol in 1954. You got it, 4 kids in 5 years. Now that will shape anyone’s life. After moving off his father’s turkey farm west of Denver, they took up residence in Greeley. Howard entered the trucking industry and soon became partners with his Brother-in-law Harvey forming Shupe and Yost Trucking. In 1969 he left Shupe and Yost to form BYCO Sales, partnering with his cousin Earl Berner in the farm and industrial equipment distribution business. A key piece of that business was the creation of the Bycool evaporative air condition system that was designed and built by Max Walker and his son’s Bob and Dean (Walker Manufacturing). The Bycool cooler made its way throughout North America and even to Australia. You can still see them on tractors, combines, RV’s, and even some homes today.
Howard really loved motor-home travel and was an avid member of the Foretravel Motor Home club. Hauling grandsons and teammates to baseball games, an annual thanksgiving trip to Utah with Cheryl’s family to celebrate with Gary’s, tailgating at Bronco home games, and consistent golf and cross country trips resulted in wearing out at least 3 of those rolling houses.
Later years saw Howard and Marjory operating H&M Leasing Company. Golf, and the Denver Broncos were also major parts of his life. The Rockies later joined that club. Howard was one of the 1st Bronco season ticket holders in 1963. In addition to golf (especially when Marjory took it up too) he managed an occasional fishing or hunting trip with Bob and grandsons.
Howard loved to sing and had a beautiful base voice. He continued to sing constantly even when he could not remember all the words….but he remained in tune!
Howard was preceded in death by his Parents, E.M. and Emma Yost, Brother’s Melvin and Vern, Sister Luella, son Gary, daughter-in-law Sue Nesheim Yost (Gary), and son-in-law Ben Kimble (Carol).
Howard is survived by his wife of 70 years Marjory, children, Bob (Karen) Yost, Cheryl (John) Brubaker & Carol Kimbell, and daughter in-law Barbara (Gary), 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild – what a legacy!
Best to say who Howard was and what we will always remember about him. He had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh and make others laugh with him. In his later years, his humor was less “retrained” and some pretty shocking things were sometime said – as those who have visited with him recently will attest! When asked how he wanted to be remembered, the first thing he said was, “that I didn’t give a rip!” But he also wanted to be remembered for those things that were of most importance to him: in constant love with his wife, devoted to his family, hardworking, dedicated, trustworthy, a man of integrity and character, a friend to pretty much everyone he met, a devoted Christian who now has entered the place where we are all the same age…eternity.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to University of Utah, College of Pharmacology, In Honor of Dr. Garold Yost at https://umarket.utah.edu/ugive/index.php?gift_id=1201&parent_id=621 or by calling 1-800-716-0377.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.