Dickie Lee Howell, 68

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 on 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, in Spokane, he met his future wife, Judith Louise Andersen, 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, Mont., and as a sawyer felling trees throughout western Montana.

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

He and his family then moved to the Flathead Valley and 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; as well as grandchildren, Forest Jasper and Boston Abigail Howell, of Libby; and his nephew, Tom Blakney, of Phoenix.

Cremation will take place and a service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 25, at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, followed by a potluck gathering in celebration of his life, at noon at Marentette Park on Highway 2 in Columbia Falls.

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