Hubert and Viola Abrams Endowed Scholarship in Memory of Dora and Charles Hout

Hubert Abrams grew up on the family farm at Carlyle, Montana, with his brother and sister, graduating from Ollie High School. He later entered the U.S. Navy during World War II and served honorably. Viola Hout grew up on a ranch south of Miles City, Montana, along the Tongue River, with her sister and four brothers. Upon graduation from high school, she worked as a telephone operator and then accepted a teaching position at the Slater school near Carlyle. It was here that Hubert and Vi met, fell in love, and were married in November 1947. They remained on the Abrams family farm and raised four children.

Farming and ranching were Hubert’s passion, and there was always something that needed to be done. He represented the people of Eastern Montana as a Representative and Senator until he was forced to retire due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Vi worked alongside Hubert on the farm as she learned how to drive tractors and other large equipment. She was a hard worker, couldn’t resist a bargain at Crazy Days sales, and developed a quilt pattern called “Vi’s Barbed Wire” which was to become her trademark. She was a very generous person and would donate many of her quilts to charities and other good causes. Because of Hubert’s health, Hubert and Vi moved to Billings to retire.

Throughout all their adventures together, their focus was always on their family. Hubert and Vi encouraged their children to work hard, step out to see the world, and to set their goals high. In memory of her parents, Vi established the Hubert and Viola Abrams Scholarship Endowment in Memory of Dora and Charles Hout in 2002. Her wish was to provide scholarship funding for students from Eastern Montana who had definite financial need. Hubert passed away in May 2009; Vi passed away in October 2016. Their children will always be grateful to both of them for their hard work and unselfish values. The first scholarship was awarded for academic year 2005-2006.