Roger Jay Howie, age 93, of Forsyth passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2016 at the Rosebud Health Care Center.
Roger was born on February 24, 1923 in Farmington, Minnesota to parents Lloyd Allen Howie and Garnette (Ferguson) Howie. Lloyd Howie worked at a dairy and when Roger was young he would go visit his father. At one such visit, Roger hurt his foot on one of the pieces of equipment. The doctor advised them to put Roger in tap dance lessons. From this time on, Roger danced his way through life. He appeared in many talent shows, plays, vaudeville shows and even performed on the Lawrence Welk show. He taught his daughter, Nancy, to dance at a young age and she was able to carry on the family tradition of dance with her dancing and dance school. Roger went to school in Farmington and was a member of the theatre and football team. In his senior year of high school, he joined the Air Force. During his time in the Air Force, Roger served as a pilot and gunner and was stationed in Britain. After he was honorably discharged, he attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota. Roger married Julie Carroll on January 13, 1955 in Minnesota. Roger worked as a salesman for most of his life. It was a great job because he could often take his family on the road and they travelled most of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and Iowa. He was an avid hunter of duck and geese and loved to deer hunt. For many years, he would come out to the Broadus/Ashland area to deer hunt with his brother and nephew. Roger fell in love with Montana and moved to Montana in 1977. They lived in Broadus, Billings, Boyd and Laurel. Roger worked for Magic Carpet RV in Billings until he retired. Roger and his wife, Julie, then moved to Forsyth, Montana.
Roger is survived by his son, James (Jackie) Howie of Laurel; his daughter Nancy (Kim) Nile of Forsyth and his grandchildren: Carrie (Chris) Miller, Charlene Howie and Brian Christianson; Jesse Nile; Kane (Krista)Nile; and Cole Nile and Kristi Zentz. He is also survived by his great grandchildren: Braelynn and Brekyn Miller, Adrick Workman and Catera Christianson, Landon Kopp and Nickia Lott, and Grey Nile.
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
1:30 PM
Monday February 20, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
1:30 PM
Monday February 20, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana
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Lynn Tompkins says
Nancy and Kim, so sorry to hear about Rogers passing. He always had a big smile for everyone. He was a great start to my day.
Laurie Lelm says
Nancy and Kim so sorry for your loss. Roger will be greatly missed. He always made me smile. I will always remember him dancing and telling me stories about his tap dancing days.
Joan Leinwand says
Sending my condolences. Will miss Roger
when visiting the NH.?
Bobbee Heberle says
Nancy , Kim and Family,
Sorry to hear about Your Father and grandfather. He was such a kind man. I always enjoyed visiting with him while cutting his hair. I loved all his stories.
Bobbee and Brent Heberle
tammy & john schoenbeck says
so sorry about your dad nancy & jim you are in our thoughts & prayers
Misty Boyer says
My deepest sympathies to the Nile/Howie families. Roger was a true gentleman full of class and poise. He wore a smile that could light up a room with a sense of humor like none other! He will be greatly missed! I feel honored to have been a part of even a fraction of his life. I will forever hold memories of him in my heart ❤
Mike and Lynn Blakesley says
Nancy and Kim,
I didn’t know your father, Nancy, but it sounds like he was a great man with a very interesting life! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Carla Bowers says
Dear Nancy, Jim and families
Sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. I enjoyed working for your folks at the Tastee Freez and getting to know you kids.