Crystal Jean Houska

Crystal Jean Houska, born August 24th, 1947, succumbed to heart failure July 30th, 2022, surrounded by her family at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

Crystal was born to Eugene and Viola Backes in White Lake, South Dakota. She was an only child.

She met her future husband Merlin Houska in Chamberlain, South Dakota and was married there shortly after. The newly formed family moved to Lead and eventually on to Gillette, Wyoming where she worked as a bookkeeper at a department store called Alco. She worked there while raising five boys and eventually moving to Belgrade, Montana in 1986.

After her two youngest sons graduated from high school in Belgrade her and Merlin moved to McAllister, MT. She worked at the nursing home in Ennis as well as in the Deli at Madison Foods in Ennis. They enjoyed the outdoors and time spend on Ennis Lake with their family for over 20 years. They bought some property in Old Town in Three Forks in the 2000's, where she worked as the Deli Manager at The Market and eventually retired. Crystal is survived by her son's Brian, Rodney (Brenda), Dale (Rachelle), Dennis (Kathy), and Scott. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Whitney, Shelby, Toni, Chad, and Karsyn.

The family will be welcoming friends and family to a celebration of her life at the Senior Center in Three Forks, October 1st, at 2 p.m. There will be food and beverages and memories shared of her life.