Lora Mae Howe

Lora Mae Margaret (Wagner) Howe, 87, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, at the Eagle Cliff Nursing Home in Billings. She was surrounded by her husband, Lou, and other family members. A brief memorial service was held before Mom left Dad in the room that they had shared in the nursing home the past two years. Mom was born on May 13, 1926, in Sunlight, Wyo. She married Dad on Jan. 10, 1947, in Billings.

Mom and Dad lived in many places throughout their 66-year marriage, but the place that they called home and raised their four children was on Miles Avenue near 24th Street in Billings. Mom devoted her life to her children and taking care of Dad. She worked whenever there was a need for extra income; however, her forte was watching over four rambunctious kids who never tired of playing sports and causing havoc on a frequent basis. After raising their four children to "adulthood," Mom and Dad helped build the four power plants in Colstrip and ran the Joliet Motel for several years. They finally "settled" down again at their new house on Constellation Trail in Billings. They had many good years at their new house, particularly with their two grandchildren, Alison and Adam, who lived only a few blocks away. Mom and Dad attended almost every sporting event of Alison and Adam, particularly basketball. They even made trips to as far away as Great Falls and Helena to watch their grandchildren. Mom truly lived a full and long life.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Christian and Dora Wagner; brothers, Paul (Garnet) Wagner, Bobby (Lucille) Wagner and Teddy (Della) Wagner; sisters, Sally Wagner and Susie (Don) Haugan.

Survivors include Dad, Louis "Lou" or "Grant" Howe of Billings; children, Sandra Blackburn of Astoria, Ore., Steve of Park City, Mont., Marvin (Susan) of Glendive, Mont., and Gary (Sheila) of Billings; brothers, Chris (Givonna) of Alvadore, Ore., Phillip (Jo Ann) of Lovell, Wyo., and Jack (Shirley) of Billings; sisters, Gloria (Bob) Bell of Powell, Wyo., and Rachel (Jim) Radden of Rock Springs, Wyo.; five grandchildren (including Stephanie (James) Cox, who was like a daughter); and six great-grandchildren. Mom is also survived by several in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, at the Deaver, Wyo., Methodist Church. Burial will take place immediately thereafter at Deaver Cemetery.