Dickie Howell

Dickie Lee Howell, 68, passed on peacefully in the company of his family on May 19, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center due to advanced heart disease.

Dick was born Sept. 19, 1940, in Whitefish to Harry and Ruth Howell. He grew up in Whitefish, graduating from Whitefish High School in 1958.

He spent time in the Army Reserve and attended the University of Montana. In the summer of 1969, he met his future wife, Judith Louise Andersen, in Spokane, and they were married on Dec. 31, 1969.

Dick was a man who wore many hats throughout his lifetime. He worked for the railroad, as a beekeeper in Hall, and as a sawyer felling trees throughout western Montana.

In 1975, he returned to the University of Montana and completed his bachelor’s in psychology. He then worked for a brief time at the Trapper Creek Job Corps Center in Darby.

Dick and his family then moved to the Flathead Valley, where he obtained a broker’s license and owned Montana Earth Realty. In the early 1980s, he joined his wife’s pursuit of a pottery production business, and together they operated Montana Earth Pottery.

In 1997, Dick returned to school at Walla Walla College, earning a master’s in social work in 1999.

Dick enjoyed bowling with his league buddies at Glacier Lanes, rockhounding, fishing, hunting, gardening, feeding the birds, enjoying the company of their Monterra Airedales, and keeping in touch with his high school friends, the “Great 58.”

One of Dick’s greatest joys and most meaningful pursuits was his 30-year association with fellow “Friends of Bill W.”

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Art and Ron Howell.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Judy, of Columbia Falls; their sons Agni Howell, of Kalispell, and Jasper Howell, of Libby; grandchildren Forest Jasper and Boston Howell, of Libby; and nephew Tom Blakney, of Phoenix.

Cremation has taken place. Services were held May 25, 2009, at St. Richard’s Catholic Church, in Columbia Falls.

The family suggests donations in his memory may be made to the Flathead Food Bank or to Teens in Crisis, at 752-3703.

Glen Johnson

Glen Johnson, 81, died May 18, 2009, at his home in Whitefish from a heart attack.

Glen was born in Plentywood on June 2, 1927, to Hank and Nina Johnson. He served his military years in the Navy and was honorably discharged July 1946.

He then went to work for the Whitefish Taxi, and later the Great Northern Railroad as a conductor and brakeman. He remained there until his retirement in 1990.

He married Billie Duff on Jan. 2, 1949, in Whitefish, where they resided until his death.

Glen was an avid golfer and spent his days at Whitefish Lake Golf Course.

He was preceded in death by sisters Cis and Betty; brother Larry; and grandson Christopher Foster.

Glen is survived by his wife of 60 years, Billie Johnson; son Terry Johnson and wife Ruby; daughter Lynn Smith and husband Jim; grandchildren Wendy Mauer and family, Kim Carr and family, and Sonny Johnson and family; and various other relatives.

The family suggests memorials to the Whitefish Junior Golf Association or the charity of choice.

Cremation has taken place. An open house will take place on Thursday, May 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Johnson home, 239 Somers Avenue, in Whitefish.

Robert Rock

Robert Raymond Rock Sr. died April 27, 2009, in Portland, Ore.

He was born in Whitefish on May 13, 1921. He graduated from Whitefish High School, where he was involved in sports. After high school, Bob and his good friend Doug Hale joined the service at the same time. They were also discharged at the same time.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Helen Lytel. They lived in San Francisco, where Bob went to college and received his degree in accounting. They had three children, Rob, Cindy and Mark.

While living in Portland, Ore., they became close friends of the Babbs. Then, on the first of January 1979, Bob lost his beloved high school sweet-heart Helen.

But the luck of the Irish was with him, and Bob found another sweetheart, Barbara Babb. They were married, and her children Linda and Mike joined the family.

Bob is preceded in death by his mother and father, Red and Mary Rock; brother Walter Rock; and sisters Betty Hale and Alice Shero, who died a few weeks before Bob.

He is survived by numerous grandchildren and nieces and nephews, from Montana to Massachusetts; sister Margie Rupp; and nieces Dee Rupp and Carol Hale, of Whitefish, and Dottie Graham and Charlotte Moran, of Hungry Horse.

Donations may be made in Bob’s name to a children’s cancer fund.