Clemens Louis Platt Jr., 83
Lou passed away on Aug. 27, 2022, in Kalispell surrounded by his beloved wife and caring staff at Brendan House.
He was born on Sept. 13, 1938, to Clemens Sr. and Edith Platt in Glen Cove, New York, and was the youngest of three children who were raised on beautiful Long Island Sound. Lou grew up loving everything related to nautical pursuits. He graduated from Oyster Bay High School, then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he proudly served at Bergstrom and George AFBs before being honorably discharged in 1962. Lou went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree from California State University Northridge (CSUN) where he was recruited by the Carnation Co.
Lou began his career in sales for Southern California’s Fresh Milk & Ice Cream Division, rose to supervisor at branches in Long Beach and Fullerton before being promoted to retail sales manager in Fontana. In 1970, he was tapped as advertising manager for the western United States based at Carnation World Headquarters in Los Angeles where he helped create some of the company’s most iconic print and broadcast advertising campaigns of the time. Later, he acquired a Carnation wholesale distributorship in Victorville where over the next 25 years, he successfully built the business and expanded it into wholesale food service. He leaves behind a legacy of business leadership and stewardship within the high desert region of Southern California. Lou believed he was the luckiest man to have a career he loved for many decades and to be able to give back to the community that supported him.
Forever drawn to the ocean, Lou looked forward to spending time at Marina del Rey and Cat Harbor with friends and family where he and Betsy sailed for over 30 years. He savored years of retirement in captivating Northwest Montana. Lou will always be remembered as humble and engaging with everyone he met, possessing a unique ability to connect with people of all ages and from all walks of life. His wit and dry sense of humor were matched only by his keen intellect. To be around Lou was to know just how good it feels to laugh. He loved his family dearly as they did him and he will be greatly missed.
Lou was preceded in death by his parents, sister Mary Ann Pippin, and brother-in-law Gerald Frederick.
He is survived by his wife Betsy, and beloved family including his sister Dorothy Frederick, brother-in-law Hal Pippin, nieces Sharon (Dirk) Cimarik, Pamela (Charles) Stuard, Jenifer (William) Santoro, nephew Craig (Renee) Pippin and cherished friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests consideration of donations to either the Humane Society of Northwest Montana (humanesocietypets.com), Wounded Warrior Foundation (woundedwarriorproject.org), or Tunnel To Towers Foundation (T2T.org).
Private services will be held and a celebration of life will be scheduled at a later time.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family. Condolences for Lou’s family may be made online at www.igfuneralhome.com