Darrell Edward Clark

In Loving Memory from a Grateful Family

Darrell Edward Clark, 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Saturday April 30th at his home in Stevensville Montana. He fought hard but lost the fight to heart failure and cancer. A memorial service will be held midsummer in LaGrande Oregon where his ashes will be released in the Wallowa Mountains which he loved so much.

Darrell was born October 22nd 1930 in Winton Wyoming to Fred and Nettie Clark. He was the twelfth of thirteen children. He was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters and 7 brothers.

Darrell is survived by his wife of 64 years, Twila Jean Clark , 3 sons, David, (Candy) Clark, Stevensville MT,  Chris Clark Stevensville MT., and Daniel Clark, Sequim WA, as well as 3 grandsons, 3 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Darrell grew up in Winton Wyoming, a coal mining camp where his father was superintendent of mines.

He attended and graduated high school in Rock Springs Wyoming.

After high school, during the Korean conflict, Darrell joined the US Navy as all of his brothers had done before him. He was a proud American Veteran.

While in the Navy he married the love of his life, Twila Jean Snyder from Green River Wyoming. Jeans father told Darrell he could not marry Jean until she graduated high school. She graduated high school and 4 hours later they were married.

Darrell was an avid outdoorsman and expert marksman and equally adept at fly fishing. As a young man he worked at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park and loved to tell tales of bears getting into the kitchen at night.

Darrell raised his sons and grandsons to respect the land and all wildlife. He attended every hunter safety class, participated in cub scouts, was an instructor for boy scouts and never missed an opportunity to camp, hunt and fish with his family and friends.

Darrell was fearless and compassionate as shown when he jumped into a runoff swollen river to save a calf elk from drowning and chased a black bear away from his sleeping sons, with a 410 shotgun while dressed only in his underwear.  Yes we have had some laughs over that!

He was an avid sports fan as well, attending every football, baseball, basketball or soccer game no matter where, to cheer for his sons and grandsons and for their team. He had the loudest voice in the stands, and his pride for sons and team always shined through. While in Sequim, he coached Little League and soccer for his grandsons and other youths, and took their teams to several championships.

Darrell was active in several Lutheran churches and worked tirelessly to help build a new church in Sequim Washington, serving on the building committee.

Darrell retired after 42 years from the Union Pacific Railroad where he worked as an engineer for both freight and passenger trains. Shortly after retirement from the railroad Darrell began work as a fueling specialist for the LaGrande Municipal Airport. He often said the Airport job was the most enjoyable job he ever had.

Darrell had a strong work ethic from an early age that he instilled in his sons and grandsons.

Darrell and Jean lived in LaGrande Oregon for over 50 years. In 1994, after vacationing in Puget Sound, they decided to leave LaGrande and moved to Sequim Washington where they lived for 13 years. Then in 2007, after visiting their oldest son in Montana they picked up their feet again and moved to Stevensville Montana where Darrell enjoyed fishing and camping in the big hole, tending his chickens, yard sales, mastering back yard mechanics and hosting his sons and their families at his home whenever possible.

Darrell was truly a ‘Beloved Husband and Father and Grandfather’