Howard Mitchell Keithler

Howard was born on 5 October 1892 in Musselshell, Musselshell, Montana, the fourth child of Ignatius Mitchell Keithler and Jennie Lee Dragoo. He joined older sisters Verne and Gertrude; a brother, William, was born and died at age 4 in 1892. Howard's younger siblings were sister Jennie and brothers Oswin and Glen. Howard and his siblings were raised in central Montana.

Howard's father Ignatius passed away suddenly on 3 March 1907, while working on their farm in Yellowstone county, Montana. Jennie was left with five children - Verne (19), Gertrude (17), Howard (14), Jennie (12) and Oswin (9). On 14 October 1908, Jennie married Eleager Lestly "Lee" Robbins of Winnebago, Minnesota, in Miles City, Custer, Montana.

During World War I, Howard served in the United States Navy, starting on 16 August 1917.

Howard married Adina Irene Clark on 5 September 1919 in Hysham, Treasure, Montana.

Howard and Adina settled in Hysham and had two children: John Lawrence and (living). After living there a few years, they moved to Crow Agency, Big Horn, Montana, where their youngest son was born. They named him Howard Ernest, after his father and his mother's brother, but he was always called "Haudy," which had also been Howard's childhood nickname.

During the 1930s, the family moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, where they lived for a time and their two oldest children were married. After the United States entered World War II, they moved to Washington State to work in the shipyards. Howard and Adina bought a place in Ridgefield, Clark, Washington, later relocating to Vancouver.

Howard's mother Jennie died on 22 July 1942 in Vancouver and was buried in Park Hill Cemetery; son Haudy became ill with pneumonia and died on 17 March 1943 at age 14. He was also buried in Park Hill Cemetery.

Son John suffered an aneurysm at age 29 and died on 4 May 1950 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; he was also buried in Park Hill Cemetery. He left a wife and young daughter Sharon, who was killed in a car accident in 1962.

Howard developed cancer and died 15 November 1968 in Vancouver. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was buried in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. He left Adina, one living child, and two living grandchildren.