Obituary: Betty Jean Howendobler

Betty Jean Howendobler of Havre, 79, passed away Monday, April 3, 2017 at Northern Montana Care Center due to complications of dementia. 

Viewing will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2017, followed by funeral service at 2 p.m. at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Ila McClenahan officiating. Burial will follow service at Highland Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in Betty's name to the Alzheimer's Association of Montana, 3010 11th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101 or to the charity of the donor's choice. Holland and Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Betty's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Betty was born Nov. 7, 1937, to John and Violet (Wittmeir) Combs in Salmon, Idaho. They lived in Conrad, Montana, where she attended school before the family moved to their family farm north of Ethridge, Montana, and continued her education there.

May 15, 1957, Betty married the love of her life, Jim Howendobler, in Shelby, Montana. This year would have made 60 years together. The love they shared was a true love, forever and for always. The couple had two children that they raised in Havre.

Betty was a homemaker. When her children were grown, she worked as a cook's helper for Havre Public Schools from 1980-1993. She quit that job to stay home and babysit her grandson, Avery, for a couple of years. She was a quiet, gentle woman whose greatest achievement in life was to be a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She liked collecting glass baskets; working outside in the yard tending to her flowers; building snowmen in the winter; ceramics; quilting; crocheting afghans; and doing anything crafty. She had a knack for looking at anything and being able to make it. She enjoyed spending time with family and attended as many school and sports functions as possible for her children and grandchildren.

Betty had spent the past seven years at the NMCC SCU. Her husband, Jim, by her side, visiting very regularly and daily for the past six months, helping her with lunch and suppers. Again, a true testament of their special love for one another.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, John and Violet; and her brothers Rodger, James and Carl.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughter, Jamie (Shane) Christiansen; son, Troy (Julie) Howendobler, all of Havre; brothers, John (Donna) Combs of Conrad, Billy Combs of Shelby and Richard Combs of Bozeman; sister, Ada (Loy) Hoffbeck of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada; grandsons, Avery and Austin Christiansen of Havre and Jared Howendobler of Glendale, Arizona; granddaughter, Chandra Howendobler Brees of Glendale, Arizona; great-grandson, Troy Howendobler of Rudyard; great-granddaughters, Ashleigh Howendobler of Rudyard and Aubrey Brees and Alexis Brees, both of Glendale, Arizona.