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BORN
1931
DIED
2024
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Howard Kolstad Obituary
Howard Clifford Kolstad, 93, passed away peacefully, with his family by his side on July 22, 2024. Howard was born in Havre, Montana on May 29, 1931 to Selmer and Elizabeth "Bessie" Violett Kolstad.
Howard attended school in Chester, MT before attending Great Falls High where he played basketball and graduated in 1949.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, January 15, 1951. He held the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and later, RD2 (Radarman) before being honorably discharged December 7, 1953. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor with the mission of sea and air rescue for planes refueling in the region. After an emergency leave to come home and help with the wheat harvest, he returned to Treasure Island and was assigned to the USS Rendova CVE114. Two cruises into Korean waters did lead them to find a Russian submarine which they forced to surface and "escorted" almost to Singapore; "A damn long way," according to Howard.
In 1954, Howard used the GI Bill to attend college at So. St. Paul where he earned an Associate's Degree. On January 21, 1956, Howard was united in marriage to Georgene "Jiggs" Woessner in So. St. Paul, MN. They set out for Montana and settled on a ranch on Castle Creek south of Lewistown.
Together they raised four kids, horses and dogs. They ran the Castle Hill Ski Run from 1969 to 1973. Howard went to work selling Farm Bureau Insurance, 1972 to 1992. He was very active in the community. He was a 4-H Leader in Fergus County from 1964 to 1977, member of the Fergus County Farm Bureau and served as President in the 1960's, Youth Rodeo Association board member and President in the 1970's and Montana High School Rodeo Board of Directors in late 1970's, member of the American Legion in Lewistown, and named the Central Montana Fair, Fair Person of the Year in 2011.
Howard is the last of his generation in the neighborhood known to those who grew up there as "Poverty Gulch." He loved his family and enjoyed the time he spent with them, especially the great-grandkids. He also loved going to the Veteran's program at the Jr. High each year and was very appreciative of those who organized it.
Howard is survived by his children, Jeff (Tamie) Kolstad, Jean (Ray) Besel, Kris (Dennis) Descheemaeker, Scott (April) Kolstad; brother-in-law, Jim Woessner; grandchildren, Nicole (Jeff) Winkler, Kyle (Ashley) Descheemaeker, Nolan (Vanessa) Descheemaeker, Corry (Derik) Arntzen, Kari (Scott) Lesmeister, Carmen (Nick) Econom, and Kasey (Kris) Tayrien; great-grandchildren, Charlie, Hailey, Reece, Jace, Layne, Kalli, Charlotte, Briella, Cooper, Berkley, Greyson, Nicholas, Waylon, Penelope, and Art.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Georgene"Jiggs" Kolstad; parents, Selmer and Bessie Kolstad; in-laws, George and Teresa Woessner, Dolores and Robert Smith, Rod and Renee Guindon, Laurie and David Jones, and Beth Woessner.
A Celebration of Howard's Life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Saturday, August 24th, 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the Eagles Club. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Fergus-Petroleum County 4-H Leaders Council, Council on Aging, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Creel Funeral Home. Howard's family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com
Howard attended school in Chester, MT before attending Great Falls High where he played basketball and graduated in 1949.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, January 15, 1951. He held the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and later, RD2 (Radarman) before being honorably discharged December 7, 1953. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor with the mission of sea and air rescue for planes refueling in the region. After an emergency leave to come home and help with the wheat harvest, he returned to Treasure Island and was assigned to the USS Rendova CVE114. Two cruises into Korean waters did lead them to find a Russian submarine which they forced to surface and "escorted" almost to Singapore; "A damn long way," according to Howard.
In 1954, Howard used the GI Bill to attend college at So. St. Paul where he earned an Associate's Degree. On January 21, 1956, Howard was united in marriage to Georgene "Jiggs" Woessner in So. St. Paul, MN. They set out for Montana and settled on a ranch on Castle Creek south of Lewistown.
Together they raised four kids, horses and dogs. They ran the Castle Hill Ski Run from 1969 to 1973. Howard went to work selling Farm Bureau Insurance, 1972 to 1992. He was very active in the community. He was a 4-H Leader in Fergus County from 1964 to 1977, member of the Fergus County Farm Bureau and served as President in the 1960's, Youth Rodeo Association board member and President in the 1970's and Montana High School Rodeo Board of Directors in late 1970's, member of the American Legion in Lewistown, and named the Central Montana Fair, Fair Person of the Year in 2011.
Howard is the last of his generation in the neighborhood known to those who grew up there as "Poverty Gulch." He loved his family and enjoyed the time he spent with them, especially the great-grandkids. He also loved going to the Veteran's program at the Jr. High each year and was very appreciative of those who organized it.
Howard is survived by his children, Jeff (Tamie) Kolstad, Jean (Ray) Besel, Kris (Dennis) Descheemaeker, Scott (April) Kolstad; brother-in-law, Jim Woessner; grandchildren, Nicole (Jeff) Winkler, Kyle (Ashley) Descheemaeker, Nolan (Vanessa) Descheemaeker, Corry (Derik) Arntzen, Kari (Scott) Lesmeister, Carmen (Nick) Econom, and Kasey (Kris) Tayrien; great-grandchildren, Charlie, Hailey, Reece, Jace, Layne, Kalli, Charlotte, Briella, Cooper, Berkley, Greyson, Nicholas, Waylon, Penelope, and Art.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Georgene"Jiggs" Kolstad; parents, Selmer and Bessie Kolstad; in-laws, George and Teresa Woessner, Dolores and Robert Smith, Rod and Renee Guindon, Laurie and David Jones, and Beth Woessner.
A Celebration of Howard's Life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Saturday, August 24th, 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the Eagles Club. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Fergus-Petroleum County 4-H Leaders Council, Council on Aging, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Creel Funeral Home. Howard's family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Lewistown News-Argus from Jul. 31 to Aug. 1, 2024.
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