Clarence L. Counsell, 90

Clarence L. Counsell, 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 5, 2012, surrounded by his family, at the Immanuel Skilled Care Center in Kalispell.

Clarence was born on Sept. 1, 1921, in Parkers Prairie, Minn., to Lee and Anna Counsell, the youngest of six children. In 1934, at age 13, Clarence moved to the Flathead Valley with his mother and siblings where they settled in Eagan Community. Clarence completed seventh and eighth grade at Eagan before graduating from Flathead County High School in 1940.

After graduation, Clarence traveled to Redondo Beach, Calif., where he received training building B-25s. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Clarence enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He spent time building housing for the Navy until he was called for duty.

He returned home in May and married his childhood sweetheart, Helen Maxine Wendt. After more training, Clarence was sent overseas and was stationed at Molesworth, England, flying combat missions over Germany as a bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress. On Nov. 5, 1944, Lt. Clarence L. Counsell was hit in the chest area by flak. Flak bounced off his vest into his left arm, throwing him into temporary shock. He managed to get back to his bomb site and release bombs with his right hand. The minus 60 degree temperature kept him from bleeding to death. A shot of morphine by navigator, Lt. C.L. Fowler controlled the pain. Lt. Counsell was awarded the Silver Star medal for his heroic action and a Purple Heart for being wounded in action.

After some recuperation Clarence returned to the United States on the Queen Elizabeth while being chased across the Atlantic by two German submarines. Upon his discharge in November 1945, Clarence returned to the Flathead Valley and took advantage of FDR’s training program in woodworking and cabinetry.

Clarence spent the next 60 years working in cabinetry and construction around the valley. He was always proud of his contributions in helping with construction of Hungry Horse Dam, the aluminum plant, the Alpine Glow Inn at Big Mountain, the water reservoir near Buffalo Hills Golf Course, repairs to the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier Park, repairs and upgrades at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran Bible Camp on Flathead Lake. He also did construction work on several area schools, banks and houses. He was very proud of his fine cabinetry work.

Clarence was happiest when working and creating. His other passion was gardening and sharing the bounty of his labor of love. Dad grew the best corn, zucchini and asparagus in the valley.

Clarence enjoyed fishing and hunting in the valley. He especially enjoyed his “little bit of heaven on earth” at his spot on Lake Blaine. He enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives with a big Fourth of July celebration and barbecue each year to commemorate the country he loved. Clarence flew the American flag daily until he became too weak to display it.

Following retirement Clarence and Helen enjoyed traveling. Two of his special memories were his reunion trip to Molesworth, England, and a trip to the World War II monument in Washington, D.C. They also enjoyed a trip to Hawaii, a cruise to Alaska, a road trip south to Branson, Mo., and then to Georgia to cheer Helen’s favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves.

Clarence was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he served as a church deacon and contributed his talents wherever needed. He loved to build items to contribute to the young people’s auctions at the church. In his retirement years, Clarence crafted walnut crosses which were included in the baptism boxes of new members, and he enjoyed giving them away. Clarence created beautiful shadow box scenes using birch bark gathered from the trees in his yard; he gifted these to his family and the church.

Clarence was preceded in death by his mother, Anna; his father, Lee; sister, Viva Petersen; sister, Gladys Hobbs; sister, Edith Tucker; and brothers, Clinton and Marion Counsell.

Of all his accomplishments, Clarence was most proud of his family. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen, of Kalispell; his daughter, Sharon Shepherd, and Dan, of Kalispell; son, Don Counsell, and Carol, of Kalispell; son, Gary Counsell, and Pam, of Monroe, Wash.; granddaughter, Tambra Dugaw, and John, of Covington, Wash.; granddaughters, Kassie and Katie Counsell, of Monroe, Wash.; granddaughter, Stephanie Sager, of Hungry Horse; grandson, Todd Shepherd, and Lynda, of Tacoma, Wash.; grandson, Ryan Shepherd, and Carrie, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; grandson, Travis Counsell, and Jenny, of Bothell, Wash.; grandson, Tim Stocklin, and Andrea, of Kalispell; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; and special friends from his old Eighth Avenue East neighborhood, Egan Community and Buffalo Hill Terrace.

Memorial contributions can be made in Clarence’s name to Bethlehem Lutheran Church Children’s Ministry Fund, 603 South Main Street, Kalispell, Montana.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. on Friday May 11, at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, at 603 South Main Street, Kalispell.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Clarence’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Clarence’s tribute wall.