HOWARD L. TIBBETTS obituary

Howard L. Tibbetts, 77, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2009, in Havre, Mont.

Graveside services were held on Thursday, May 28, 2009, at the Calvary section of Highland Cemetery in Havre. Family and friends attended the service and a luncheon at 11 a.m. in the Vineyard Room of the Duck Inn restaurant at 1300 1st St. Howard was preceded in death by his adoptive parents, Garnet and Howard Tibbetts; his birth mother, Slaby; his brother, Julian Evenhus; and his youngest son, Charles Tibbetts. Howard is also survived by his brothers, Pealmar (Ellie), Red (Joy) Evenhus and Bill Slaby; his sister, Linda Williams; daughters, Cynthia Tibbetts (John Fraser) and Debra Thompson (James); and his son, John Tibbetts (Chris Christensen); granddaughters, Edelene Ohman (Creig), and Rosalind Chedatol (Jay); grandsons, Kevin and Eric Tibbetts; a great-granddaughter, Georgia West-Chedatol and three greatgrandsons, Josiah West- Chedotal, and Wesley and Davis Ohman; his childhood best friend, Roy Jensen (Darlene); and devoted special friends Sandy Butler and Essie Gebhardt. Howard was born Oct. 5, 1931, and grew up and attended school in Powers Lake, N.D. With his friend Roy Jensen, he developed his talent for humor and practical jokes as well as his hunting and fishing hobbies. Howard came to Havre, Mont., in the early 1950s as a telegrapher for the Great Northern Railroad. He continued to work as a telegrapher/ relay operator until the 1960s when he switched to dispatching for the Great Northern Railroad and then the Burlington Northern Railroad. His career as a respected, though sometimes ornery, dispatcher took him to Billings, Mont. And his retirement in 1994. In 1978, Howard became a licensed ham radio operator and very much enjoyed the friendship of his fellow ham family and friends through e-mail and telephone chats. Howard lived his life the way he wanted to, and we will remember him as a humorous and again sometimes ornery fellow who loved his family and friends unconditionally. Memorials in Howard's honor are of the donor's choice.