Clayton Henry Almquist

1918 - 2009 Clayton Henry Almquist, 90, of Boise passed away May 16, 2009 at his home. A vigil service will be held 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m., Thursday, May 21, 2009 at Sacred Heart with burial to follow at Morris Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home. Clayton Henry Almquist was born June 2, 1918, along with his twin sister Margaret to Henry and Ada Fuller Almquist. They grew up on the family acreage on the corner of Broadway and Dundee in Boise. Clayton attended Garfield Grade School, Boise High School, and Boise Business University. As a young man he hunted on the Boise Bench and fished in the Boise River at Broadway. As a 16 year old, his first paying job was a newspaper route for the Old Boise Capital News. He had two routes delivering papers all over South Boise on his bike. While in high school he worked after school and on Saturdays at Standard Furniture. When he graduated from Boise Business University his first job was night payroll auditor for Morrison Knudsen during the building of the new airport. He married Virginia Nicholas in 1942 in Mountain Home, Idaho. This year they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on April 3rd. Clayton started his lumber career as office manager of Halleck and Howard Lumber Company in 1942 in Cascade, Idaho. He later joined Simplot Lumber company where he was Vice President and General Manager. During this time he managed the plant in Caldwell and the Horseshoe Bend Saw Mill, until the higher cost of timber caused him to close the operation. He was responsible for building the Horseshoe Bend Pond and believed in the need for reforestation. He promoted a tree farm in Boise County and he led the effort to convert the sawdust from the planer mill in Caldwell to cattle bedding and presto logs. As a member of the Western Pine Association he was a member of the research committee and served as chairman of the Forest Practice Committee. In 1961 he joined PN Hirsch Company, and for the next 25 years was internal auditor for the Western half of the United States with stops in Idaho Falls and Salt Lake before returning to the Western Division office in Caldwell, Idaho. In Salt Lake he served on the board of directors for the Credit Bureau of Salt Lake City and was elected President of the group. Clayton was baptized into the Catholic Church December 23, 1964 and the following year he served as President of the Men's Club at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Murray, Utah. When the family returned to Boise from Salt Lake, he joined Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he has been a member for 39 years. He was an usher for most of those years and served on the parish finance committee. In retirement he enjoyed weekly fishing trips to all his special fishing holes and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grand children. Surviving is his wife of 67 years, Virginia, and his two blessed children: Clay Almquist and Sharon Almquist Job. Grandchildren Brett Job and wife Lisa Olmstead, Sam Pyne and wife Shiloh, Molly Douglas, Lisa Davis Job, and Christina Brownlee Johnson. Great grandchildren Ashley and Tanner Job, Berkley and Murphy Olmstead, and Seth Pyne. His sister Margaret Sedivec . Nephews Skip Sedivec and wife Carol and Family, Greg Sedivec and family. Four generations of nieces and nephews from Virginia's family. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Sacred Heart Church, the Bishop Kelly Scholarship fund, Saint Luke's Hospice or a Charity of your Choice. Our special thanks for all the extra ordinary care and concern of Dr. Nona & associates, including Sasha and the wonderful office staff, Dr. Crane including Michelle and staff, and the Saint Luke's Home Health and Hospice. Condolences for the family can be made online at www.CloverdaleFuneralHome.com