Roberta Belle Howard

Roberta Belle Howard, 97, passed away at home Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. She was born in Quileute, Wash., to Ashby and Gertrude Smith. When she was about two, the family moved to Red Fir. She attended school in Kooskia.

Roberta met Buster Howard in her senior year and they were married Feb. 28, 1947. They had five children and were happily married for 76 years. They moved their family to Lewiston in the spring of 1955. Soon after their marriage, Roberta started to study the Bible and attend the meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses. She was baptized on May 25, 1952. Buster joined her shortly afterward and they were both faithful in practicing their beliefs until their deaths. A highlight for Roberta was when she had the privilege of going to an International Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in New York's Yankee Stadium where there was over 200,000 in attendance.

Roberta was well-known for her love of gardening. In particular, the beautiful dahlias she grew. People would stop by the fence just to admire them. When they moved into their new house just around the corner, she took her dahlias with her and planted them in her garden in the backyard so she could continue to enjoy them.

Buster, who passed away Sept. 25, 2023, and Roberta are survived by five children, Terry (Christine), Bruce (Pam), Tonda, Dan (Louise) and Greg (Kandice), all of Lewiston, sister Cheryl Massey, brother Dean Smith and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Roberta was also preceded in death by her parents, Ashby and Gertrude Smith, brothers Ashby (Swede) Smith and Harold Smith, granddaughter Loleta Howard and great-grandson, Keeton Sutherland.

A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1434 Ripon Ave., Lewiston.