HOWARD C. TAYLOR obituary APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz.,

Former Hill County Sheriff, Howard C. Taylor, 83, died Friday, July 13, 2007, in Apache Junction of heart failure.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 27 at Messiah Lutheran Church at 417 20th Street. Pastor Michael Dahle will conduct the service. Howard was cremated and will be interred at the cemetery in Kalispell. Howard was born Feb. 11, 1924 in Seymour, Ind., to Homer and Clara Taylor. He grew up and attended schools in the Litchville, N.D. area, where he farmed with his father as a young man. He married Bernice Johnson in 1945 and they were married 52 years before she preceded him in death in 1998. They had three children, including twins. In North Dakota, Howard owned a gas station in Nome in the early 50's and later worked as a mechanic for Ford garages in Valley City, and Casselton. Bernice taught school and they lived in Marion, Nome, Oriska, and Buffalo, N.D. before moving to Shelby in 1960 and Havre in 1961, where Howard was employed at the Ford garage and Bernice taught in the school district. He first worked in law enforcement as a deputy and undersheriff, and in 1970 was elected Hill County Sheriff. Howard served as sheriff from 1970 to 1986, when he and Bernice retired to live in Lakeside. Howard was an avid motorcyclist and he and Bernice toured the country on his Harley for many years. He enjoyed boating and fishing on Flathead Lake and spending winters in Apache Junction. He was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church while living in Havre, and Eidsvold Lutheran Church of Somers, the Elks Lodge and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister, his wife Bernice; and his son, Eugene Taylor. Survivors include companion, Norma Cooper of Apache Junction; two daughters, Barbara (Leonard) Smith of Rock Springs, Wyo. And Eunice (Lynn) Simonson of Whitewater; daughter-in-law, Toni Gibson of Three Forks; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the QRU emergency ambulance service in Lakeside.