Howard Wheeling passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the Sidney Health Medical Center.
Howard Franklin Wheeling was born February 20, 1924 to Joseph and Florence (Kightlinger) Wheeling. He came into this world on a stormy night at his grandparent’s house in Guys Mills, PA. Howard was the middle child and only one born in Pennsylvania. He was raised in the Squaw Gap community and attended county school at Shadwell, and later graduated from Sidney High School in 1942. He was a charter member of the Sidney FFA.
On May 12, 1947, Howard was united in marriage to Amba Jean Hatter at the Lonsdale United Methodist Church, Sidney, MT. They met at a pie social. Together they worked side by side and Howard often said that she was his best hired hand and continued to until she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2002.
As a rancher, Howard always worked to make his herd better and was a good steward of the land. He was an integral part of keeping the waterlines in the pasture in good working order even dragging his wife, children and grandchildren out to help. Howard was always inventing new ways to make things better, such as ignitors for oil wells. He was a problem solver. Howard made parts for the neighbors when they couldn’t find a replacement, and he was never more at home than when he was in his shop. After he retired from ranching, he worked with longtime friends, George and Fred at Boyce Drilling.
Howard is survived by: three children, Michael (Patti) Wheeling, Sidney, MT, Laura (Jim) Germann, Squaw Gap Community and Joseph (Jennifer) Wheeling, Durango, CO; his seven grandchildren, Jesse LaFountain, Sara LaFountain Deming, Julie Jacobson, Kari Abelseth, Cole Germann, Olivia Wheeling, Brooke Wheeling; his seven great grandchildren; his sister, Elizabeth Hatter, Squaw Gap, ND; numerous nieces and nephews; and the many people he brightened their day by giving them a hug or a kiss.