Obituary - Richard D. 'Dick' Habeger, 90

On Christmas Day, Richard "Dick" Habeger, tiring of his failing health and body, left this earth to join his many loved ones in heaven. Being surrounded by family, he left us just before 5:00 p.m. as we're certain that Jimmy and Richie were waiting for him with a glass of the good stuff.

In recent years, Dick had moved to Hamilton, MT, with his daughter and primary care giver, Sue. He had resided in the Beehive Homes and Discovery Care Center of Hamilton.

Dick was born to George John and Evelyn Gorder Habeger October 11, 1929, in Lewistown, MT. He was raised in, Havre and attended schools in Turner and Havre, graduating in 1948. He worked for Buttrey Foods during his high school years delivering groceries, later enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1948, stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. Dick later worked a short time for the Great Northern Railroad but found his true calling as a fire fighter with the Havre Fire Department, serving 27 years and retiring as fire chief in 1979.

Dick met the love of his life, Maryhelen Clark, in high school. They dated and kept in touch all through his short tour with the Army. They married May 20th, 1950, and were blessed with five children, beginning with Susie in '51, Jimmy in '52, Richie in '55, Jeanette in '59 and Johnny in '61. Dick and Maryhelen spent all their years in Havre doing their best to provide a home filled with love and laughter for their family. They enjoyed camping in the Bear Paw Mountains and hunting and fishing in the areas surrounding Havre. Dick loved to tell stories of growing up on the Hi-Line without money, but noting that they were never poor. Some of his favorite tales were giving himself a birthday gift and quitting smoking at the age of 50; traveling to the Philippines to visit the spiritual healers that seemed to have cured his MS; and of the great six-point elk hunt that he so often told.

After Maryhelen retired in 1989 as the clerk of court for Hill County, Dad and Mom would travel south to Arizona to get a break from the cold Montana winters. They wintered in Yuma, AZ, until Mom's passing in 2003.

We all will miss you, Papa, but we know you're in good company with those that have passed before you. Dick was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Maryhelen; sons Richard and Jim; father, George; mother, Evelyn; brother, John and Ruth Habeger; sisters, Mary Jane and Glen Morgan, Carolyn and Bill Marquart, Ernestine and Gayle Tuck and Laura Lee and Fred Frederick; in-laws, Chester and Katherine Clark, Chet and Bess Clark, Harry and Roma Clark, Bob and Kay Wiebers, Emden Granell.

Dick is survived by his daughter Susan Habeger of Hamilton, daughter Jeanette and Ken Kranz of Great Falls and son John Habeger of Butte; grandkids: Mike Butts, Krissy and Rick Gulman, Cara and Dan Johnson, Doug Habeger, Jamie and Tony Johnson, Cory and Angela Habeger, Ryan and Andi Habeger, Kenny Kranz, Cody Kranz and many great grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held at a later date in Havre, MT.