Vernon "Bud" Clarke Jr.

TORRINGTON, Wyo. -Vernon W. "Bud" Clarke Jr., 79, died Friday, May 6, 2011, at his home in Torrington.

Bud was born Sept. 28, 1931, in Rapid City, S.D., the son of Vernon W. and Orpha (Mills) Clarke Sr. He grew up and attended schools at Hermosa, S.D., and Venice, Calif. Bud then joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Guam. He returned to Rapid City and started working at Safeway and later became store manager. He married Evelyn Heutzenroeder on Oct. 29, 1955, in Rapid City. In 1964 the couple moved to Gering, Neb., where a new Safeway store was just opening and Bud came in as manager. He managed that store until its closure in 1980 and then moved to Torrington, where Bud again managed the Safeway store there. He retired from Safeway 1987 and went to work over the span of the next 20 years at Holly Sugar and Western Sugar, retiring in September 2010.

Bud enjoyed fishing and camping, reading, doing yard work, and playing KENO. He was a member of the Battle River Masonic Lodge 92 of Hermosa, where he received his 50-year pin. Bud was also a past member of the American Legion and VFW, and he was an Episcopalian.

He is survived by two sons, Victor Clarke and Victor's children, Jesse, Zach and Colter, all of White Clay, Neb., and Gary (Brenda) Clarke and their children, Amy (Bryce) Hoffman (and their son, Davyn) and Brian Clarke and Cami Clarke, all of Newcastle; a daughter, Liz (Mark) Gwin of Gering, Neb., and their children, Haley (James) Stewart of Ely, Nev., and Delaney Gwin of Gering. Also surviving are two nephews, Paul Hackler and Bill (Mary) Hackler, all of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and a sister, Joan Hackler.

Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Karen Anderson officiating.

Burial of both his ashes and those of his wife, Evelyn, will take place sometime in late summer in Hermosa.

Memorial donations may be made to "Meals on Wheels" at the Torrington Senior Friendship Center.

An online guestbook is available at www.colyerfuneralhome.com.