Phyllis Clark, 83, passed away after a long illness on April 3, 2014.
She was delivered into the world by her aunt, Sarah, on March 12, 1931, in New Richland, Minn. She was the second child born to Anna Grace (Dyer) and Edward Leonard Anderson. In 1934, the decision was made to move to Montana and stay and work on the Dyer ranch where her maternal grandparents lived. They were early homesteaders in the Flathead Valley, settling in the Creston area.
Her granddad's family migrated from Georgia via covered wagon during the Gold Rush days. "Granddad's people" were farmers, so they opted for farmland rather than on to Last Chance Gulch near Helena. Her parents were very industrious. Phyllis would say she thought her mother invented "thrift" or "make-do." Nothing was wasted.
When in the sixth grade, her dad bought her a used bicycle. She took on an afternoon paper route for The Daily Inter Lake as the only girl carrier. In junior high she learned to play the clarinet. Later, she was in the Flathead County High School marching band. In high school she began to "shine" in speech class. Phyllis always had a way with words.
In Phyllis' words, "The first time I saw Allan was at a movie theater. I was an usher. I said to the other usher, 'That one in the uniform is the best lookin' man I have ever laid eyes on ... that one's for me!'" The marriage was Nov. 20, 1949.
She spent many years as a busy mom and homemaker on the Clark farm, all the while being generous with her time volunteering and helping others.
She was employed at Peterson School and Kalispell Regional Hospital for many years. Before that, she was often seen riding her bike to reporting assignments while working at The Daily Inter Lake, with camera and notebook bouncing in the basket and her skirt flapping in the breeze. Phyllis was "ahead of her time" in many ways.
She grew organic food, ground her own grain for bread, and was very knowledgeable about vitamins, supplements and healthy living. Her dedication to recycling was instilled by her parents. She was a true earth steward.
One of her favorite Bible verses was Revelation 7:3 - "Hurt not the earth."
Phyllis enjoyed backpacking, horse packing, and RV travel ... especially to a Griz game. "Go Griz!"
She is survived by her husband, Allan Clark; sister, Doris Handford; brother, Lewis Anderson; children, Mary Jo Gardner and Denny Olson, Brad and Judy Clark, Jenni and Bill Crane, all of Kalispell, and Val and John Nesemann of Lostine, Ore.; grandchildren, DJ Clark of Kalispell, Christy Poulos of Salt Lake City, Jasmine Gardner of Austin, Texas, and Eli Clark of Kalispell; and nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.
Donations in Phyllis' honor can be made to Samaritan House.
A service for Phyllis will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at the New Covenant Church, 436 Birch Grove Road, Kalispell.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Phyllis Clark, please visit our flower store.
She was delivered into the world by her aunt, Sarah, on March 12, 1931, in New Richland, Minn. She was the second child born to Anna Grace (Dyer) and Edward Leonard Anderson. In 1934, the decision was made to move to Montana and stay and work on the Dyer ranch where her maternal grandparents lived. They were early homesteaders in the Flathead Valley, settling in the Creston area.
Her granddad's family migrated from Georgia via covered wagon during the Gold Rush days. "Granddad's people" were farmers, so they opted for farmland rather than on to Last Chance Gulch near Helena. Her parents were very industrious. Phyllis would say she thought her mother invented "thrift" or "make-do." Nothing was wasted.
When in the sixth grade, her dad bought her a used bicycle. She took on an afternoon paper route for The Daily Inter Lake as the only girl carrier. In junior high she learned to play the clarinet. Later, she was in the Flathead County High School marching band. In high school she began to "shine" in speech class. Phyllis always had a way with words.
In Phyllis' words, "The first time I saw Allan was at a movie theater. I was an usher. I said to the other usher, 'That one in the uniform is the best lookin' man I have ever laid eyes on ... that one's for me!'" The marriage was Nov. 20, 1949.
She spent many years as a busy mom and homemaker on the Clark farm, all the while being generous with her time volunteering and helping others.
She was employed at Peterson School and Kalispell Regional Hospital for many years. Before that, she was often seen riding her bike to reporting assignments while working at The Daily Inter Lake, with camera and notebook bouncing in the basket and her skirt flapping in the breeze. Phyllis was "ahead of her time" in many ways.
She grew organic food, ground her own grain for bread, and was very knowledgeable about vitamins, supplements and healthy living. Her dedication to recycling was instilled by her parents. She was a true earth steward.
One of her favorite Bible verses was Revelation 7:3 - "Hurt not the earth."
Phyllis enjoyed backpacking, horse packing, and RV travel ... especially to a Griz game. "Go Griz!"
She is survived by her husband, Allan Clark; sister, Doris Handford; brother, Lewis Anderson; children, Mary Jo Gardner and Denny Olson, Brad and Judy Clark, Jenni and Bill Crane, all of Kalispell, and Val and John Nesemann of Lostine, Ore.; grandchildren, DJ Clark of Kalispell, Christy Poulos of Salt Lake City, Jasmine Gardner of Austin, Texas, and Eli Clark of Kalispell; and nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.
Donations in Phyllis' honor can be made to Samaritan House.
A service for Phyllis will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at the New Covenant Church, 436 Birch Grove Road, Kalispell.