Howard Carl Ernst, Jr., 85, of Colorado and Montana, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2024. Carl was married to Sylvia (nee Lauraitis) for 50 years before her passing in 2020. He and his sister, Christie, were raised in Denver by their parents, Howard and Helen Ernst. Carl served six years in the International Guard and managed a ski resort in Crested Butte, CO. He then went into law enforcement in Gunnison, CO before working security at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago where he met Sylvia. They settled in Colorado where Carl worked in circulation for the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. Carl and Sylvia's nieces and nephews enjoyed many camping trips and exploring the mountains of Colorado. Carl was a member of the Evergreen, CO Rotary Club. They retired to Montana where Carl was a member and president of the Miles City Rotary Club. He became the Lt. Governor of the Rotary Club of Montana. He enjoyed mentoring young people and was very social. May he rest in peace.