Cynthia Adams Howard, age 68 of Sioux Falls, passed away Tuesday May 26, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. A private family service will be held. A celebration of her life will be announced at a future date.  Memorials may be directed to Feeding SD-Backpacks.

Cynthia Adams Howard was born July 14, 1951 to Eleanor and Robert Howard. She spent her early childhood in Cummington, MA. Her family moved to West Springfield and finally settled in Greenfield, MA. Upon graduating from Greenfield high school Cindy enrolled in Oberlin College and studied Political Science. After graduating from Oberlin she moved to Minneapolis, MN, and attended the University of Minnesota law school. Cindy moved to the Cheyenne Indian reservation, Standing Rock and worked as a legal aide. Cindy's next move was to Deadwood, SD where she entered private practice and eventually accepted the position as public defender for Lawrence County.

In 1988 Cindy met Thomas Lubeck in Deadwood and joined him in Sioux Falls, they were married in 1990. Cindy continued her career working in the Public Defender Office and later as the lead attorney and administrator in the Public Advocate office to her retirement in 2015. In 2001 she received a Bush Fellowship and attended Cambridge University where she earned a MA in criminology.

Cindy was dedicated to the idea of service to others, and throughout her life she participated in a variety of community organizations and projects. Cindy was chairperson for the YWCA board of directors. Cindy also served on a number of committees at First Presbyterian church. She worked closely with two organizations in particular: Feeding South Dakota, which provides lunches and school supplies to students in need, and Glory House, which provides treatment for substance abuse and mental health problems. She was on the board of Directors for Glory House and also worked on the Glory House newsletter. Cindy had strong values of justice and caring for others, and through her job as a Public Defender and her work with these organizations, she lived out those values.

Beyond all her work and community, Cindy had a passion for nature. She loved the Black Hills. She had the energy to help build a log home in the Black Hills. She loved sitting on the front porch in the late afternoon and watched the evening shadows fill the meadow. Cindy's family will miss her curiosity and desire to see all there is to see in the world. Whether it was a trip to Morocco or to Nebraska to see Sandhill Cranes, Cindy had energetic drive to explore. Cindy also had a goofy side, and would find the cutest silliest Christmas presents every year. Cindy also served as a role model for her children with her personal strength and commitment to her work in a difficult field.

Cindy was a great example of how to be a positive influence in the world. She often worked on community projects such as volunteering with Glory House or the YWCA. Above all, she led by example, always trying to make the world a better place, which set a great example for her children and those around her. Another wonderful trait was her positive attitude and hard work ethic, which rubbed off on her children. Cindy was a person to be admired.