Valgene Clothier, 80

Valgene Clothier passed away on May 30, 2015, at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City after a long struggle with cancer. Now may he rest in peace without pain.

Val was born June 15, 1934, in Kila at the Colby ranch to Archie and Queveene Clothier. Later the family moved to Swan Valley and made a home on 80 acres along the Swan River.

Val married Anna Mae Harmon in 1956 and had three children, Clifford, Lannie and Lisa. Val made a living for his family in the woods, harvesting timber all around Western Montana for years.

Then he followed the timber trail west and then north to log in southeast Alaska. After suffering a serious accident in Haines, Alaska, and recovering, he went back to school and became the manager for a welding supply store in Fairbanks, Alaska. The family lived in Fairbanks for several years until Val heard the call of the timber again.

He moved to Seward, Alaska, and became the timber buyer for the Seward sawmill and the family lived there for years. This was his dream job, to search for and develop timber sales. He enjoyed flying out to look at prospective timber sales all around south central Alaska. His gift for gab and love of stories made him many friends as he roamed around looking for timber to buy for the mill. He had a good eye for the value of a stand of timber, but also the ability to see possibilities in areas along Alaska's coast that were piled high with storm-wracked trees.

Later, he retired back in Montana.

Val is survived by his mother, Queveene Talley, of Kalispell; his three children; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his brother, George Beck.

He was predeceased by his father, Archie Clothier, and his sister, Nancy Clothier.  

Val had been living in Ashland, Montana, to be near his good friends, Roger and Amanda Dillard.  

In memory of Val, the family asks that you take time to reach out to those you love wherever they are.