Clyde Block, 90, passed away on Aug. 28, 2015, in Kalispell.
He was born Dec. 5, 1924, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Walter H. Block, and Ethel Block Blau. He attended school in Milwaukee and spent his summers during the Depression with his older brothers on Columbus Lake in northern Wisconsin.
They worked hard on the cabin and played hard at hunting and fishing. During his senior year he attended an apprentice school where he learned the basics of electronics and appliances. Then he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was on the LST Boat for almost four years.
A week after returning home from his Navy career, he moved to Montana in a 1934 REO Speed Wagon with his brother Dan and wife Gerane, who were newlyweds. His dad, Walter, had sold the cabin at Columbus Lake and bought 160 acres with a log home on Trailcreek, in the North Fork. Bud worked on the Jack McFarland Ranch where he met his lovely wife Zelma, who was also working there. Bud also worked for the Forest Service on the North Fork. He spent about 5 months in Butte working in the ore mines until he was injured in a cave in.
Bud and Zelma were married July 30, 1949. They spent their honeymoon on Thoma Lookout. They then built a log cabin on Trailcreek, where Zelma hand peeled every log. Bud went to work for Art Rasmussen at Kelly Main Street Furniture in 1950. Bud bought his business and appliance service in 1975 from Kelly’s and moved it into his own shop on Meridian Road. He semi-retired in 1985 and sold his business to his son Walter K. Block. He fully retired in 2001.
Bud and Zelma moved to Flathead Lake where he spent many enjoyable hours in his boat fishing or out searching the mountains for that perfect buck. Bud was a devoted Christian husband, father, and grandfather. He and Zelma had three children, Carol O’Neil and husband John; Judy Weekly and husband Ed; Walter Block and wife Cindy. Bud has seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Bud has one brother Daniel G. Block and wife Gerane of Dillon; twin sister Ethel Ione Powell and husband Harold Bullion (deceased) John Powell (deceased) of Appleton, Wisconsin; brother Philip J. Block (deceased) and wife Bette of Hydeville,Vermont; sister Lylace L. Mani (deceased) and husband Harris W. Mani (deceased) of Tempe, Arizona.
Bud always ended his visits with “Keep smiling!”
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 1 at Easthaven Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Hospice or the North Fork Improvement Association.