Lee D. Clark

Lee David Clark Jr, 79, of Browning, Mt passed away on February 11, 2024 at the Blackfeet Care Center in Browning surrounded by loved ones after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

JR was born on June 13, 1944 to Flora Bremner and Lee Clark Sr. He was the baby brother to his siblings Doats, Sonny, and Eddie. JR had a spirited youth and had many stories to share; some sad, some funny, but they all encompassed people that JR loved: his grandma, parents, siblings, aunties, uncles, numerous cousins, and lifelong friends. Many of his stories that he shared involved the girl that he met in 5th grade and grew to love and marry in 1967, Jo Ann. JR and Jo Ann worked on the family ranch and a variety of jobs until they decided to go to college at Northern Montana College in 1971. JR received his bachelor's degree and went on to earn a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Montana. JR and Jo Ann devoted their lives to education in the Browning education system, helping to shape countless young minds and giving many kids a better start. He coached all levels of baseball along with football, cross country, and track. He decided to try his hat at the administrative role in education and was a principal at Browning Middle School, Browning High School and retired as the Superintendent of Browning Public Schools in 2000. During JR's years in education, he was still involved in the family's ranching business, and assumed the role of a full-time rancher when he retired from the school system.

JR loved sports, especially the Browning Indians, Montana Grizzlies, and the Duke Blue Devils. Some of the sporting highlights in his life were going to Griz football games and when he had a personal meeting with Duke's Coach K at Camden Indoor Stadium. (JR told the story of nearly passing out when Coach K shook his hand and chatted with him as if they had known each other for years.) He would often call or text a grandkid and set up bets for the Cat/Griz game or college basketball games - especially March Madness.

JR could fix almost anything, whether it was plumbing, electrical, construction or mechanical; however, a job was never complete unless he made multiple trips to Browning Lumber, Billman's and then Great Falls or Kalispell to get "the right parts". It's thought that all of those trips could have been excuses to get out on the road and listen to a book on tape and eat fast food. The project may have taken a while to complete but was always finished to perfection.

JR had many of his loved ones precede him in death, JoAnn, his wife of 49 years, his parents Flora Bremner and Lee Clark, siblings Delores Hall and Allen LaPlante, his in-laws, Fred and Ann Johnson, aunts and uncles, and his beloved nephew Roy LaPlante. He is survived by his brother Eddie LaPlante of Browning, daughters and sons in law, Beth and Robert Carette of Pflugerville, Texas, PeeWee and Ping Stiffarm of Browning, Mt, and Cynthia and Rick Reilly of Hermosa, California, sister in law, Maryellen Lesmeister, brother in law Vernon Hall, six grandchildren that he was incredibly proud of, Michael Carette, Olivia Johnson (Jordan), Savanna Carette, Mya Stiffarm (Colton) Tristan Stiffarm and Nano Stiffarm, 2 great-granddaughters, Riley Johnson and Amara Jo Last Star, many nieces, nephews and cousins, and a few he considered sisters and brothers, namely Willene LaPlante and Lockley Bremner.

There will be a Celebration of Life to honor Jr at the Glacier Homes Community Center on May 25, 2024 @ 11:00 am. Please bring a good to story to share.