Dina Houg, age 98, died Monday, March 3, 2008 at Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point, Montana. She was born to Willem and Neeltje (Van Veen) Wille in Holland on October 21, 1909. In 1914, at the age of 5, her parents took Dina and her two younger brothers and sailed to the United States settling in the Brusett area of Garfield County, Montana. Here they joined the extended family in running a general store.
During her high school years, she went to live with an aunt, uncle, and cousins in Portland, Oregon. After she graduated she returned to Montana and attended a teacher’s college and began her teaching career at the age of 19 in Garfield County.
In the late 1930’s she began teaching in the Benrud community north of Wolf Point and met a young farmer named Herbert Houg. They married October 9, 1938 and over the next eight years had five sons – twins Loren and Larry, Bruce, Dale and Doug. Dina was a woman of great faith and this sustained her in the deaths of her infant son Larry, her adult son, Bruce, and her husband Herbert.
After her love of God and family came Dina’s love of travel – flying over glaciers and the outback, riding camels and elephants, climbing the Eiffel Tower, walking the Great Wall of China – she did it all and more. She also enjoyed crocheting, quilting, reading, socializing with her friends and shopping. Dina was also known as a fierce opponent at the game of Scrabble and took on all challengers. We rejoice that after a long and faithful life she has finally gone home leaving us with wonderful memories of her graciousness.
Survivors include a brother, Gerrit Willie of Jordan, Montana; three sons, Loren (Joan) Houg of Wolf Point, Dale (Kay) Houg of Tacoma, Washington, Doug (Royal) Houg of Wolf Point, and daughter-in-law Marlene (Dewayne) Jager of Wolf Point; eleven grandchildren, Marc (Janece) Houg of Phillipsburg, Montana, Becky (Rick) Fritz, of Circle, Montana, Tonya (Mel) Paulson of Havre, Montana, Bruce Houg of Wolf Point, Doug Jager of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Tori Davis of Sidney, Montana, Shari (Kelly) Olson of Westby, Montana, Jon (Emily) Houg of Tacoma, Kristin (Steve) Bowden of Boston, Massachusetts, David Brockmeyer of Oak Harbor, Washington, Chris Brockmeyer of Johnstown, Colorado; sixteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Dina was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert; two sons, Larry and Bruce Houg; two brothers, Bill and Jon Wille; a sister, Gertrude Williams and a great-grandson, Jeffrey Houg.
Visitation will be Friday, March 7, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church of Wolf Point.