Dr. Robert Austin Howard

ward, President of

Medscan Lab and Ad-

vanced Drug Testing,

passed away on No-

vember 8, 2019, at the age

of 67, surrounded by his

family at his home in

Williston, ND.

A memorial service

will be held at 11:00 AM

on Saturday, November

30th at the Gloria Dei

Lutheran Church in

Williston, ND. In lieu of

flowers, the family has

decided to set up the

“Robert A. Howard chem-

istry scholarship” for

chemistry majors at the

University of North Dako-

ta. In Memory of Robert

A. Howard, donations to

the scholarship can be

made payable to the

“UND Foundation” and

sent to MedScan Lab,

1502 13th Ave. West,

Suite 201, Williston, ND

58801

Robert (Rob) was born

in Minot, ND, to Austin

and Pauline Howard. He

was a graduate of Minot

High School. Rob attend-

ed the University of North

Dakota for three years and

then transferred to the

University of Houston

where he received a

Bachelor’s degree in

chemistry followed by a

Doctorate degree in chem-

istry. It was at the UH

chemistry department

that he met his future

wife, Joanne, also a stu-

dent. After graduate

school, Rob attended

medical school at the

University of Texas Medi-

cal Branch. After medical

school, he immediately

went to work as a consul-

tant and entrepreneur in

Houston, Texas. He

founded several com-

panies in the precious me-

tals and clinical laborato-

ry industry through his

career. In 1992 Rob

packed up his family and

moved to Williston to

start Dakota Catalyst Pro-

ducts. He then began Ad-

vanced Drug Testing and

Medscan Labs in 1999,

which are still in business

today and operated by his

four children. Rob was

very passionate about

chemistry and the sci-

ences. He was always one

to lighten the mood with a

joke no matter how seri-

ous the matter. Rob and

his family loved boating at

Lake Sakakawea.

Robert was preceded in

death by his parents Aus-

tin and Pauline Howard.

He is survived by his wife

of 41 years, Joanne Ho-

ward; son, Jesse Howard;

son, Michael Howard;

daughter, Jennifer Heller;

son, William Howard;

grandchildren: Emily Ho-

ward, Austin Heller,

Christian Heller, Kyle Ho-

ward, Luke Howard, Na-

talie Heller, and Finn Ho-

ward; and sisters: Judith

Howard, Nancy Fischer.

Friends may visit

www.eversoncoughlin.co

m to share remembrances

of Rob or leave con-

dolences with his family.

Friend may call at the

Church on Saturday, No-

vember 30th for the hour

preceding the funeral ser-

vice.

The Everson Coughlin

Funeral Home of Willis-

ton is caring for the fami-

ly.