Rev. Dr. Howard Hart

Rev. Dr. Howard Hart, 92, of Corsica, SD, formerly of Mitchell, SD, passed away Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Douglas County Memorial Hospital in Armour. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, February 17, at Grace Reformed Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Monday from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 PM prayer service.

Howard Hart was born August 1, 1933, in Fall River, Mass, to Ernest and Minnie (Cross) Hart. He attended elementary and high school in Fall River. He later graduated from Barrington College, RI, receiving a BA in Philosophy. In 1961, he received B.D. and M.Div. degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. At North American Baptist Seminary in 1968 and 1969, he had specialized training in Christian Education. He also later received a Doctor of Divinity Degree.

Howard was ordained to the Christian ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church on March 28, 1962, in Bellmawr, N.J. He served OP churches in Bellmawr, N.J., and Bridgewater, SD, from 1961 to 1969. In 1969, he joined the RCUS and served RCUS churches in Eureka, SD, and Sutton, NE from 1969 to 1982. The RCUS sent him as Missionary at Large in Cincinnati, OH, from 1982 to 1985. While in Cincinnati, he served Faith Presbyterian Church from 1985 to 1986 as interim pastor. Rev. Hart served RCUS churches in Garner, IA, and Lincoln, NE, from 1986 to 1998. He retired from the active ministry in 1998 and moved to Mitchell, SD.

From 1999 to 2005, he was a writer for the RCUS and helped produce 1000 Sunday School lessons. During this time, he was also the Administrator of the Reformed Resource Center. He served various area churches by filling the pulpit for Sunday worship. Dr. Hart's real passion was teaching the Bible. He fulfilled this by teaching at the Mitchell Christian High School from 2004 to 2010. He loved his students, and they loved him. He was employed by the Prehistoric Indian Village in the summers as a tour host from 2001 to 2007.

Howard served in the National Guard from 1949 to 1958 and served in Korea. He was united in marriage to Barbara Monson on June 14, 1958. To this union was born Deborah (Terry) Van Zee of New Holland, SD. Howard has two grandchildren: Benjamin and Daniel Van Zee, and two great-grandchildren, Eli & Kinsley.

Rev. Hart found a great deal of joy in meditating on the Persons of the Holy Trinity, teaching the Gospel and the Love of Jesus in the classroom. His lectures in Church, History, Philosophy, and Apologetics were all based on Jesus, The Christ. His love for the folks in his congregations and the RCUS was only surpassed by his love for his wife Barbara, his daughter Debby, and his faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, in August of 2021.