The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-02-25
N. D. Rowland
Drops Dead
in Helena
Senator From Lincoln
County Dies While
Conversing with Friends
WELL KNOWN OVER
STATE; HERE SINCE 'O9


STATE; HERE SINCE 'O9
Senator Rowland and | were
walking down corridor in the cap
itol building discussing bill that
was before the senate" said Sena-
tor M c. Moss of Whitefish while
in Libby Tuesday to attend the flu
neral of Mr.. Rowland. 1.-The sem
ator left me to speak to young
man standing in the corridor whose
father Mr.. Rowland had known we'll
in former sessions of the legislature.
saw Paddy speak to the young
man and heard him make inquiry
regarding his old friend from the
son. He was told that the young
mans father was standing a short
distance down the corridor. Paddy
turned to go and look up his old
friend but had taken only a step or
two when he fell forward on his
face. believe he was dead when he
struck the floor"
1t was in those words that SEN
ator Moss, friend of many years,
told of the sudden death of Sena-
tor NJ D. Rowland last Friday
while serving as state senator from
Lincoln county in the Montana leg,
islature. Death was caused by
heart attack. Mrs. Rowland had
gone to Helena a few days earlier
to be with Mr.. Rowland, both of
them having planned to return to
Libby to attend the annual Wash
ington birthday ball on Saturday
night sponsored by the Libby Ma
sons.
News of his death struck count
less people in Libby with shock.
He had been prominent resident
of this city since 1909 and the uni
versal remark was that his passing
will be sorely felt. This feeling Of
a real loss was manifested by the
signal honors paid his memory by
scores Of friends at the time OF the
funeral services which were held
Tuesday afternoon from the Gompf
funeral home. They were conduct
ed by the Rev. E. Roy Fort of the
Methodist church. Mrs. j. A. Krall
and Mrs. Gleason Pitcher sang
Crossing the Bar" and Mrs. Walter
Neils the solo, Going Home" Miss
Inez Ratekin accompanied the sing
ers at the piano Active pallbear-
ers were Max Sturrn, James Harris,
Jr., E. M. Boyes, R. W. Smithberger,
F. f. Clark and f. r. Baney. Hon
orary pallbearers were Hans West
man, Frank Warner, Joe KujaWa,
Otto Griep, Melvin Paulson and
Gleason Pitcher, members of the
Moose lodge, of which Senator
Rowland was also a member.
An indication of the high respect
and affection in which Mr.. Row
land was held by the community
could be seen in the great album
dance of beautiful floral gifts from
his many friends and organizations.
The casket and all the wall space
of the funeral home was covered
with flowers. All business houses
of the city closed from 230 to $50
and the schools also closed.
Graveside services were conduct
ed by the Masonic order Harry
Hill, formerly of Milton, Iowa, but
now living in Billings, made Mr..
Rowland Mason in Milton in 1907.
He gave him his obligation as
grand master in 1882 and came to
conduct the Masonic services and
to commit him to the grave
The casket was conveyed to the
funeral home and to the cemetery
by members of the Libby fire de-
partment, the casket being carried
on one of the fire departments
trucks. knight Templars from Kei-
ispell, under Hans Walchli, acted as
an escort. The Moose lodge provided
cars.
Services for Senator Rowland
were also conducted at Helena Sun
day afternoon by the grand lodge
4 of Montana, which was largely at
tended by Helena friends and mem
bers of the legislature. The entire
membership of both houses was
present as honorary pallbearers at
this service
A delegation fronfthe senate COM
posed of G. M. Moss of Whitefish,
DR.. A. A. Baker, Glendive, and H.
H. Haight, Suffolk, all personal
friends of Mr.. Rowland, came to
attend the funeral.
Members of the state highway
patrol brought the family from Hell
ena. They were Gale. McKain of the
state highway office, and Patrol
men George Mourar, formerly Of
Libby, now of Missoula; Forrest
Currens of Helena, and Morris
Blake and Clarence Baker of Kali
ispell.
Morris d. Rowland ("Paddy')
was born in Milton, Iowa, Septem-
Der %, 1885, the son of j. ID. and
Mamie Rowland.
He was graduated from the Mil
ton high school, attended the State
University of Iowa, and graduated
from the College of Law, Yale Uni
versity, in 1908 He started practice
of law in Spokane but hearing Of
the division of Lincoln county in
1909, came at once to Libby where
he has resided since. Here he en-
gagged in the practice of law and in