Dennis "Rhea" Howe

Memorial services for Rhea Howe, 83, of Portales will be held at 10:00 AM, Jan. 10, 2026 at the Cowboy Junction Church in Hobbs, NM with Ty Bean officiating.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research or the American Cancer Society at the links listed below.

Dennis Rhea Howe, known to virtually everyone as Rhea, was born June 25, 1942 in Las Vegas, NM to the home of Juanita Jewel (Hammond) and Marion “Seale” Howe, and died on the afternoon of Jan. 3, 2026 in Farwell, TX.  Mr. Howe’s early years were spent in Wagon Mound, and later Rogers, NM, before moving to Moriarty, NM where he graduated from high school in 1962.  Rhea attended Eastern New Mexico University for a year, and it was during that time that he met Clara Lou Cain.  They were married in Clayton, NM on Feb. 29, 1964.

For the first few months of their marriage, he drove a meat truck in Albuquerque before moving to Truth or Consequences to work on a family ranch.  He remained as a rancher for the remainder of his lifetime.  In 1966, he relocated to a ranch near Nara Visa, and two years later he moved to a ranch near Santa Fe.  A year later, he moved his family back to Truth or Consequences to help his wife’s newly widowed grandmother. Before moving to the ranch, he took whatever work he could find. After moving to the ranch he co-owned and operated Sierra Feeds in T or C.  In 1970, he moved to a ranch at Engle, NM where he remained until 1989.  At that time, he moved to a ranch at Corona, and from there he moved to Crossroads in 1993.  In 1996, he moved to a ranch in Lovington where he remained until retiring and moving to Portales in 2022.

Mr. Howe was an outgoing and very friendly man who loved people.  He enjoyed dancing and roping and playing cards.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Truth or Consequences.  During his lifetime he had served as a County Commissioner, and as Treasurer for the Soil Conservation Board.  At the time of his death, he was a member of the Central Christian Church in Portales.

He is survived by Clara, his wife of almost 62 years of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Travis and Kristi Howe of Crossroads; a daughter and son-in-law, Rheanel and Kevin Breshears of Portales; four grandchildren, Hadley and Jocelyn Howe, Bryce Howe, Layni and Bobby Lee and Shelden and Joely Breshears; nine great-grandchildren, Ruby Lee, Drue Lee, Trey Howe, Tatum Howe, Razten Lee, Maverick Howe, Swayzi Howe, Lynnlee Howe, Gracie Lee and a tenth great-grandchild expected shortly; and a sister, Roxanne Plant of Lovington, NM.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

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