Clarence Oscar Swede Ekholt, 87

Clarence Oscar Swede Ekholt, 87, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell. He was born on May 9, 1923, in Dunkirk, the youngest of six children, to Oscar and Mary (Halen) Ekholt. Clarence began his early education in a small country school before moving with his parents to Shelby at the age of 12; there he continued his studies. He worked with his brother-in-law doing lathe and plaster before working with his uncle on his farm. In 1943, Clarence joined the U.S. Army and served his country in the European Theater where he was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. After separating in 1945, he worked in Seattle for a short time before moving to the Flathead Valley. Here he worked with his brother-in-law at Stan Craft Boats and learned cabinet making. Clarence met Betty Drake and they were married on Dec. 8, 1950 in Kalispell where they began their family. After Stan Craft, he worked for Lee Craft before operating his own boat company. Clarence built cabinets while working for Bob Erickson and Arrowhead Construction before starting his own shop. He was very successful and ran his shop until retiring in the mid 1990s. He was awarded the Citation of Honor award from the Kalispell Architect Association in 1976. After retiring, Clarence enjoyed spending his time designing and building boats and model planes. He loved wood carving and often fabricated his own tools. Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; and four sisters. He is survived by his son, Bill Ekholt and wife, Susanne, of Kalispell; and two daughters, Roberta Cline and husband, Randy, of Frenchtown, and Eva Kaiser and husband, Lane, of Kalispell; one sister, Nel Pritchett of Butte; as well as five grandchildren, Mary, Lane, Bill, Lendelyn and Paul John; two great-grandchildren, Donny and Alex; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Clarence will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Cutler officiating. Burial will follow at the Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Clarence's family.