Allen B. Houston

Allen B. Houston, 89, of Hamilton passed away Saturday May 23, 2015 at his home at the Remington, Sapphire Lutheran Homes. He was born August 1, 1925 in Chelsea, Iowa, the son of Clifford and Elvira (Metz) Houston and was raised in Tama County, Iowa.
He joined the Navy in 1943 and served as a signalman aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Bunker Hill. During one of the worst battles of the Pacific on May 11, 1945, they were bombed by kamikazes and Al fought the fires on deck burning the soles of his feet.
After the war, Al graduated from Tama high school and attended the University of Dubuque (Iowa) from 1946-47, then moved to Provo, Utah where he graduated from Bringham Young University. He worked for one of the first companies taking school pictures, traveling around Utah and Colorado.
Al moved to Hamilton in 1957 and taught the fifth and sixth grades at several schools until he retired in 1983. He was a popular teacher and held a crafts program in a barn that was enjoyed by many.
During the summers, he worked for the forest service serving as a fire spotter and a fire fighter.
Al is survived by his sister Alyce Schavone of Spearfish SD, six children, Racquel (Ron) Graham (Columbus, OH), Dain (Vickie) Houston (Richfield UT), Klein (Dawn) Houston (Provo, UT), Kade Houston (Maroni, UT), Mart Houston (American Fork, UT), Bern (Kaye) Houston (American Fork, UT), 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and four adoptive children, Jefri Houston, Janys Manning, Joslyn Jellison, and Greta Baker.
He participated in many community activities and was a lifetime member of the American Legion, the Elks, the Masons, among others. He was involved in the city pool project.
Al enjoyed wood-working, fishing, square dancing with the Boots and Calico Square dancers, and coffee and conversation with other retired school teachers.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Sapphire Lutheran Homes, Inc. Hamilton, MT to help fund a campus bus for elders transportation.