Robert 'Bob' Clark, 79

Robert “Bob” Clark, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away June 25, 2011, at age 79, due to a heart attack, at North Valley Hospital.

He was born May 28, 1932, in Mead, Wash., to Helen Pellet Clark and Gale Clark. He was the youngest child in a family of six. He grew up in the Spokane and Sandpoint, Idaho, areas. He walked 12 miles to school in the winter on the railroad tracks and he said, “It was uphill both ways.” He once rode his bike from Sandpoint to Spokane by himself when he was 12 years old. He stopped halfway and slept under a haystack. His mother gave him a good switching but that didn't stop him from having an independent spirit. It was only the beginning!

In his teenage years he worked as a carpenter. He enlisted in the Army and served during the Korean War. He was stationed in Alaska at Eielson Air Force Base and honorably discharged with the rank of corporal, at Kent, Wash. While in Alaska, he found out what 60 degrees below zero felt like and decided it was way too cold to stay there! After he was discharged, he had to stay in Kent until he made enough money to buy a car to return home.

He moved back to Spokane and continued his education at Spokane College. He graduated from the electrical engineering program and started the career he loved. He moved to Libby where he lived for 40-plus years. He drove a truck for Helphery Motor Freight and worked for Ferguson’s Electric repairing TVs, until he saved up enough money to start Bob's TV and operated that business for 30-plus years.

In the early ‘90s he moved to Tonopah, Nev., to work with his brother Forrest. In 1997 Bob moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where he worked for Merlin's TV. In 2001 moved to Kalispell and worked for All Electronics until he retired a few years later. Through the years, Bob learned how to fix just about anything.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Roy, Jay and Albert Gull; and his sister, Edna Davey Wilson.

Bob is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of 56 years; his brother, Forrest Clark, and wife, Joan; his daughters, Colleen Turner and husband David, and Barbara Roberts and husband Nick; and son, Edward Clark, and wife, Christene; grandchildren, Selena, Danielle, Ryan, Jessica, Tabitha, Ericka and Raven; and great-grandchildren, Josiah, Rachell and Lily. Many nieces and nephews and numerous other relatives also survive him.

He was a great friend to many and would give them the “shirt off his back” if it could help them.

Arrangements are under the care of Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish. Services will be held there Friday, July 1. Viewing will be at 2 p.m., services at 3 p.m., and burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. A reception will follow at 311 8th Street West in Whitefish.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Western Montana Mental Health Center.

You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences and view Robert's tribute wall.