Morris Robert ‘Bob’ Houle
NIARADA — Morris Robert “Bob” Houle, 81, of Niarada passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, surrounded by all his loving children. Bob was born Sept. 5, 1932, in Ronan, to Fredrick J. Houle and Hellen E. Houle (Winslow).
He is preceded in death by his father and mother; sisters Lois Dupuis and June Dulleghan; brother Fredrick J. Houle; and daughter Linda M. Houle.
Three siblings survive Bob: Allene Cole of Dixon, Lora Cole of Polson and Rose Kugler of Ronan. He is also survived by seven children: Cathy (Houle) and Keith Barrows of Arlee; Mike and Pamala Houle of Polson; Sandy (Houle) and Brian Hall of Hot Springs; Fred J. Houle of Arlee; Kelly and Christy Houle of Columbia Falls; Hugh and Lisa Houle of Ronan; and Jolene (Houle) and Eric Henricksen of Ronan. Bob was blessed with 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In 1951 Bob married Phyllis (Tougas) Houle. Also in 1951, he joined the United States Air Force and served from 1951 to 1954. He was stationed as an air policeman at Fairchild in Spokane, Wash. During Phyllis and Bob’s 19 years of marriage they had five children. In 1955, at the young age of 22, Bob served as a tribal council member for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe. In 1970, Bob married Cherilee (Dresen) Houle and during their 26-year marriage, had three more children.
Bob lived most of his life on a ranch southeast of Polson. Construction was his trade, but what he really loved was farming and ranching. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a construction business called Mud Creek Construction. When he wasn’t working for himself, he worked as a carpentry instructor at Kicking Horse Job Corp. Ultimately he retired in 1995 as a building inspector for S&K Housing Authority.
After retiring, Bob moved to Niarada to spend the rest of his days ranching and being a cowboy on what he called the “Wolf Bait Ranch.” As everyone who knew Bob during this time understood, he really pushed the limit riding and trading some rough horses and some great horses. He entered steer wrestling in local rodeos when most cowboys his age had hung up their hats. He lived hard. He always used to say “I would have taken better care of myself if I would have known I’d live this long.” Dad was famous for his one-liners. Many of them are not appropriate for print. This trait must be hereditary if you ever listen to his sons.
Our brother; husband; dad; our Papa Bob, will be remembered as a hard-working man, an absolute true cowboy, with the biggest hands you’ve ever seen. He had a great voice, loved to sing old country music and yes Bob “it is hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” We love you and you will be greatly missed.
