George Armour Howell, 86

George Armour Howell, 86, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, in Sandpoint, Idaho, from long-term complications of stroke damage.

Memorial Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Superior, Mont. Also, at his request, a memorial service and interment will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2006 at the Lambert Community Cemetery in Lambert, Mont.

George was born on Jan. 1, 1920, in Lambert, the son of George McCoy Howell and Florence Beeman Howell. He was raised and attended school in Lambert, graduating from Lambert High School in 1939. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., graduating in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in arts.

George joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and served during World War II as a B-24 airplane pilot and bomber squadron commander. He received recognition for distinguished service and was honorably discharged in June 1945. After the war, he attended post-graduated school for 2 1/2 years at the University of Iowa in Ames, studying physics.

He taught school as a substitute for one semester in Outlook, Mont. and then in 1949 joined his brother James in operating the Mineral Independent in Superior, Mont., as the editor until 1985. George was a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Superior, Mont. He was active in the local Lions Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In 1996, George suffered a stroke while driving. The injuries from that and the resulting car accident caused him to require skilled nursing care from then until the time of his death. He was a resident of the Mineral County Nursing Home in Superior. the VA hospital in Spokane, Wash., Village Health Center in Missoula, Mont. and the Life Care Center in Sandpoint.

George never married. He is survived by his sisters: Eunice VanderMolen of Wheaton, Ill.; Marian (Ted) Frostenson of Bend, Ore.; 12 nieces and nephews, 27 great-nieces and nephews and 11 great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers James and Donald; his sister Jeanette Hammer; a niece and two nephews.

The family would like to especially thank Jeri Alarcon and staff of Life Care Center for the marvelous care he received in his last days. Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.