Minnie was born on December 6, 1917 in Brownfield, TX to Lee and Della Popham. She moved to Lipscomb county as a child, graduating from Canadian High School and later graduating from West Texas State. She moved to Amarillo in 1944. She married Alton W. Howard in 1946. Minnie was a homemaker and a member of Paramount Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughter: Denise Betancourt of Amarillo and her granddaughter, Shelby Betancourt
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Bill Popham; husband Alton Howard and son, Curtis Howard.