Obituary
Howard Montonye was born the sixth child of eleven children to John Adam and Mary (Bennett) Montonye on Sept. 5, 1888 at Odell, Nebr. He departed this life thursday, Mar 15, 1984 at the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma, Nebr., at the age of 95 years, six months and ten days.
Howards moved to a farm four miles East of Long Island, Kans., at the age of three. Here he attended the Turner Rural School District.
ON Feb., 12, 1913 Howard was united in marriage to Maude Scott Gilchriest at the Harlan County Courthouse in Alma, Nebr.. To this union, one daughter, Leta Leona Montonye, was born on Jan 3, 1919. She passed away in 1935.
After their marriage, Howard and Maude made their home four miles east of Long Island until moving to Green Forest, Ark., in Jan 1914. They moved back to Long Island after the death of Maude's father in the fall of 1915. They resided in the Long Island and Woodruff communities until moving to a farm ten miles north and five miles east of Phillipsburg, Kans., in 1925. It was here under the ministry of Harry Rothfus that Howard confessed Jesus Christ as his Saviour at the Inglewood Wesleyan Church in 1934. For some twenty-five years, Howard sang and played the guitar, harmonica, violin and accordian at various churches. He also wrote several songs and poems.
In 1939, Maude and Howards moved to Alma where the became members of the Conceptional Church which later became the Alma Evangelical Free Church. Here, Howard taught an adult Sunday School Class for fourteen years. In 1970, they moved to Beaver City, Nebr., where they attended the Free Methodist Church, returning to Alma in 1975, residing at the Parkview Manor until moving to the Colonial Villa in December 1979. Since moving to Alma, Howard and Maude attended the Alma Evangelical Free Church until the steps became a problem. They later attended the Free Methodist Church until their health no longer permitted. Since entering the Colonial Villa, Howard and Maude have regularly attended all spiritual events. A staff member of the home had said God was the guiding force of life.
Howard was a member of the Alma Evangelical Free Church. He had served on the School Board at the Turner Distract and the Plummer District near Long Island.
In addition to his parents and daughter, Howard was preceded in death by six sisters and two brothers.
He leaves to mourn his passing, his loving and devoted wife, Maude, of the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma; two sisters, Mrs Esta Gilchriest, Bridgeport, Nebr and Mrs Lena Gilchriest, Coos Bay, Ore.; one sister-in-law, Mrs Golda Gilchriest, Bridgeport, Nebr.,; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Memorial Services were held Mar 17 at 2:OO pm in the Free Methodist Church in Alma, Nebr., with the Rev Paul Cronk officiating. Mrs Marla Svehla sang special music, accompanied by Mrs Joyce Wunibald.
Casket bearers were Rev. Ernest Chambers, Darrell Mintzmyer, Rev. Duane Russell, Clifford Hess, Cortley Rumbaugh and Verlyn Thalheim. Burial was in the Alma Cemetery.