John James Clark
Dad left the homestead on July 7, 2022 for the last time. He was proud to be the third generation on the site and still living in the original home (although it had been added onto as the family grew).
John James Clark was born on May 6, 1939, in Billings, Montana, to Jack and Bobie Clark, one of four children, and the only boy! He may have been a little extra protected by his father against all those girls, but he and his youngest sister were pretty good at entertaining themselves and keeping grandma on her toes.
He graduated from Shepherd High School and shortly thereafter he met the love of his life, Peggy Cumin at the KitKat Cafe. They were married on June 21, 1960. Together he and Peggy worked on a ranch in Rygate, logged in the mountains of White Sulphur, worked the sugar beet campaign, drove semis, dump trucks, and worked construction for various companies.
They had three children, Bobbi, Billee, and Jared, who were raised in Billings Heights, before it was considered within the city limits. So they had a little bit of everything that makes life wonderful. They were sure the neighbors didn’t appreciate the snowmobiles or mini bikes roaring up and down the road and they were sure the horses were glad to see us go back to school after Christmas breaks spent pulling sleds for all the kids.
Dad traveled many miles behind the wheel of a semi, and each of us were able to see new horizons in one direction or another. Billee and Bobbie spent many summers in construction camps in Yellowstone National Park while dad worked for COP construction. They were pretty lucky to see a lot of the park behind the tourist scenes in the summers and then every winter they made trips to Old Faithful from West Yellowstone.
Jared once launched his motorcycle off the Tongue River spillway while dad was working a job down there. He was a man that enjoyed having his family with him, and they had many adventures. Their dad was a genuine fix it man as well as their hero. They always knew dad could fix anything, build anything, and do anything! He was a real gift from God.
After their grandfather passed away, Dad migrated back to the ranch to help Grandma Clark with her sheep, and began a herd of cows for him and mom. Eventually they purchased the ranch from grandma and mom also made the move out to Shepherd.
They shared 57 years of marriage before Peggy was taken too soon in 2018. The last four years have been long and lonely for dad and we are telling ourselves that they are happily together again in heaven- but our hearts are still broken.
While Bobbi was taking care of dad recently, she had picked up a book and read the line “A bell is not a bell ‘til you ring it, a song is not a song ‘til you sing it, and love is not love ‘til you give it away.”
Dad gave his love away from the time the doctors placed him in his mother’s arms and he never stopped. He was always slow to anger and quick to forgive. Sometimes he would talk tough, but would never follow through–he was just too tender. We truly believe that God hand picked their parents, they couldn’t have asked for anyone better.
John is survived by his three sisters, Jacqueline Schleder, Dorothy Lanier, and Barbara Yurian; children, Bobbi (John) Heinzman, Billee (Mainard) Welk, and Jared (Kelli) Clark; grandchildren, Keith (Brook), Savannah (Tom), Steena Marie, Samantha, Gracie, and Jessy; great grandchildren, Jake, Hayden, and Skylar; honorary family member, Jason Nauman; as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
Memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 19th, 2022, at 11 a.m., in Billings at East Gate Wesleyan Church, 625 Mattson Ln. Potluck luncheon to follow.
