Clarice F. Bush, 92

Clarice lived to be 92 years old. Born March 20, 1929, Clarice passed away May 30, 2021.

She was a beloved wife for 74 years to retired Col. William H. Bush, who passed away earlier this year. The pain and loss of her husband caused a rapid decline for Clarice. Julia Bush Swanson is her daughter and she will be continuing the family cherry business, along with Clarice’s grandson Jeffrey Bush. Dan Bush, her son, passed away a few years ago due to severe COPD. Clarice was cared for amazingly by her granddaughter, Monica Bush. She was surrounded with love and will be dearly missed. Clarice was a fixture in the Flathead Valley for more than 60 years and many people knew her as the cherry lady, she even once had a visit from Sir Paul McCartney at her cherry stand in Lakeside.

Clarice was a driven, talented, intelligent woman. She was always there to help someone in need and she met hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world in her time selling the famous Flathead cherries. She sold cherries to children in the early ‘60s who are now grandparents themselves and are now bringing their grandchildren to buy these amazing cherries that Clarice, Bill, Dan, Julia, Jeff, Monica and many others, spanning generations, put blood, sweat and tears into. Clarice was the creator of the cherry business and hopefully we can honor her memory, along with Bill’s and Dan’s and have one of the best cherry seasons that Jubilee Orchards has ever seen. You will be dearly missed, rest in peace.

Clarice’s funeral will be held at noon on June 25 in Missoula at the Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway St., Missoula, MT 59808. It is open to anyone that would like to come.