Joseph Herbert Habets, 97, a long time Conrad and Shelby area farmer, passed away Saturday, June 9, 2007 at the Marias Care Center of natural causes. Visitation is Wednesday from 1:00 until 8:00 pm with a vigil/rosary service at 7:00 pm at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 Thursday, June 14, 2007 at St. William Catholic Church. A lunch will follow immediately after the mass at the church parish hall. Interment will be in the Mountain View Cemetery . Condolences for the family may be sent to www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.

Survivors include his daughter, Sheila Fleming of Tulsa, OK; son, Ernie (Shirley) Habets of  rural Conrad; grandchildren, Heath Plagman, Jeff Habets and Kelli (Donnie) Schroeder; sisters, Phylis Burnett of Seattle, Martha Alcala of Clarksville, AZ, Geraldine Christieans of Butte and Mary Louise Widhalm of Valier; and brothers, Emile & Leo Habets both of Valier.  

He is preceded in death by his wife, Cecilia; a sister, Ann Milledge; brothers, Paul and Louis; half brothers, August, Pete and Gene; and a half sister, Eugenia Mingneau 

Joe was born May 19, 1910 in Holland to Peter & Mary (Bours) Habets. He came to Montana at the age of 2 where the family settled near the Belgium Hill area east of Valier. Joe married Cecelia Rose Houben May 4, 1937 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and enjoyed the next 69 years together. They farmed near the county line until their retirement in 1974 when their son took over the farming operations. For sixteen years they traveled; visiting all but four states and all the provinces in Canada .

He was a member of St. William Catholic Church and Conrad Moose Lodge. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, and metal detecting, going to the river, cutting fire wood and dancing.

Memorials are suggested to the Marias Care Center ’s Tree of Life or Ladies Auxiliary.

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