Clara Elizabeth Albrecht, 87
On Aug. 4, 2019, our Lord and Savior called Clara Elizabeth (Grewe) Albrecht to his heavenly home.
Clara was born on Sept. 9, 1931, near Bertha, Minnesota, (Bartlett Township) to William and Elizabeth Grewe. After her mother died, she joined brothers Edwin and William and their father with family chores such as milking cows, feeding chickens and farming. Clara enjoyed fishing and reading in her spare time.
She graduated from Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois, with a teaching certificate in elementary education. She taught school in New Orleans and Grafton, North Dakota, with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). During this time, she met Alfred “Al” Albrecht, a widower, while giving a presentation on her work. On June 13, 1959, Clara and Al were married and joined his four children in Rolla, North Dakota, where they lived until 1966. Al and Clara then moved to Kalispell where they raised three additional children and resided until their deaths.
Clara was active in Trinity Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, Thimble Club quilter and local LWML member until Al’s health declined. She was famous for her baking — apple pies, cookies and chocolate cake — which people planned diets around when attending church potlucks! Clara was an avid gardener, growing cucumbers, raspberries, beans and peas that she would sell at the Kalispell Farmers Market. Later, when gardening became too much, she served as the market master for over 15 years before retiring. She also enjoyed playing pinochle and board games, reading, watching football and going on drives with her family.
Clara and Al celebrated 48 years of marriage, before his death in 2006. She later moved in with her son James and then Prestige and Brendan House as her health declined due to strokes and dementia. The family would like to express thanks to the staff for their care and kindness while she was under their care. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother who will be missed.
Clara is survived by her children Ivanlee (Judy) Albrecht, of Bozeman, Mark (Alice) Albrecht of Marysville, Washington, Alan Albrecht of Billings, Darlene (Russ) Ohm of Kalispell, John Albrecht of Silverdale, Washington, James Albrecht of Kalispell, and Susan (Brian) Buhr of Helena. She and Al had 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Clara was preceded in death by William and Elizabeth Grewe, Edwin “Ed” and Rhoda Grewe, William “Bill” Grewe, Mary Albrecht and Al Albrecht.
The funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Trinity Lutheran Church, followed by a luncheon, with burial at the cemetery at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of her to Trinity Lutheran School for either scholarship or library funding.
To God be the glory, Amen.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.