Born in South Cottonwood near Murray, Utah, Howe attended public schools before receiving a B.S.

He held a number of legal and governmental jobs, including as deputy Salt Lake County attorney, South Salt Lake city attorney, administrative assistant and field representative to U.S.

On June 13, 1976, Howe was arrested in Salt Lake City on misdemeanor charges of soliciting sex for hire after propositioning a police officer posing undercover as a prostitute.

[1] As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints representing a district where most voters were members of the church, and amidst a rash of other congressional scandals in the summer of 1976, Howe had maintained that politicians' private moral behavior was relevant to their public service.

Following his electoral defeat, Howe stayed in Washington, D.C., and worked as a lobbyist, including, at the end of his career, for the National Park and Hospitality Association.