Clyde von Bargen, 84

Clyde von Bargen passed away on Wednesday, April 13, 2005. He was a decent hard working man who had experienced a full life of 84 years.

Born March 7, 1921, in central California, Clyde grew up in Santa Cruz on the family ranch, and attended the local high school where he played trombone in the school band.

Clyde and Patricia "Patti" Beaudet were married on March 4, 1945, in Santa Cruz, Calif., where they lived and worked until moving to Palo Alto, Calif., in 1946. In the Bay area, and later again in Santa Cruz, Clyde enjoyed a long and successful working career in wholesale dairy delivery services.

Clyde and Patricia's first child, Larry, was born in 1947, followed by Eric, in 1951 (who tragically died in an auto accident in 1978), Philip in 1955, and Cynthia in 1958. Clyde worked hard for many years to support his family and provide opportunities for each of his children to develop interests and successes of their own. He was very proud of each of his children.

Because of his love for outdoor activities, family vacations were often into the mountains for tent camping, hiking and fishing. A series of summer vacations also occurred in Santa Cruz, where Clyde almost single handedly built a vacation cabin close to a golf course and ocean beach. Later, the family moved to Santa Cruz, in 1962, into a comfortable neighborhood close to good schools for the kids.

On one particular vacation through the northwest in 1967, Clyde and Patricia were struck by the big sky and of the beauty of the Flathead Valley. They resolved to make it home one day. That opportunity was created in 1974, and the family moved to the Creston area of the Flathead Valley. Their children moved on to their own families and careers, but this was home for Clyde and Patricia for 17 years.

Fulfilling another dream, they built a home, Clyde's last, on the lakeshore near Dayton in 1991. Clyde enjoyed hunting in the mountains and sailing on the lake, and his famous rock borders and retaining walls will be a lasting legacy for that home.

Clyde is survived by his wife Patricia; children, Cynthia and their children, Dan, Colleen and Meaghan, Philip and his wife, Amelia, and Larry and his wife, Sally, and their children, Gretel and her husband, Curtis.

Finally, Clyde would want you to know that if you're ever asked "What's a henway?, the correct answer is about 2-1/2 pounds."

A graveside service for family and friends will be held 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, at C E Conrad Memorial Cemetery. At Clyde's request there will no visitation.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Clyde's family.