Geraldine Ruth Welker Clark was born January 22, 1930, the only child of Ruth Barrett and Lorain "Buck" Welker. In mother's words, she was born premature, at seven months, and weighed only two pounds at birth. When it was time to take her home, they placed her in a shoe box packed with cotton. She was kept on the oven door and fed her with an eye dropper.


She lived in Parker where her Father, a farm hand, worked for Ed Cox. It was here that she contacted scarlet fever. Her Mother, Ruth, with Grandma Welker's help, pulled her through this illness by making her drink "gallons" of milk with Ovaltine in it. Mother never cared for milk the rest of her life.


She started school in Parker, but, in second or third grade, moved with her parents to Westwood, California where her Father went to work for the Red River Lumber Company. Tragically, on December 19, 1939, her Father was killed when a load of logs came loose from a truck and fell on him. Mother said that losing her Father at eight years of age was the most tragic thing that ever happened to her. His last word to her before going off to work that day was "Help you Mother". After he was killed, Mother's Christmas presents, that he picked out for her, were found in the trunk of his car: jodhpur pants, cowboy boots, and a hat. She wore them to school the next day.
Her Mother, with the help of Eddie and Isabelle Rice, moved back to Idaho and stayed with Grandma Berrett. Ruth bought a house on West Main in St. Anthony just across the alley from Grandma and Grandpa Berrett. Grandma Berrett was a special person to mother and took her to the Rex Theater every weekend. She remembers Grandma Berrett as a very hard working person who never complained, ever.


Ruth married Don Middleton in February, 1941. Don proudly assumed the role of Father and provided Mother with all the love and caring that few men could have done. They moved back to California when Mother was in the sixth grade and they lived there until Mother was a freshman in high school. They then moved back to St. Anthony where Mother lived the rest of her life.


Mother married Gene Taylor Clark on October 19, 1946 in Dillon, Montana. Times were very difficult for this teen-age couple, but they struggled and persevered through many years of toil, and hardship. They both said that they grew up together. Mother and Dad were married for 66 years before Dad's death.


Mother sewed most of our clothes when we were young. She was a great seamstress and taught a sewing class for 4-H when Karen and I were 4-H members. Additionally, Mother made numerous quilts for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.


When her kids were home, Mother worked the harvest to help pay medical bills and to buy winter coats and boots. After we were all in school, she worked for 30 years as a Sales Associate, usually in clothing. Her life was mostly hard work and little play. However, she loved to roller skate with her Grandchildren and bowl with Gene and with her special friends. She always looked forward to the state tournaments.


Mother was a tough lady. She endured many hardships with the grit that is only born from withinHer adolescence was short and she became a mother at an early age. Poverty followed for many years, but she pushed it aside and made all the sacrifices necessary to make ends meet and to provide her little family with the needs that only a Mother could provide. She survived breast cancer twice. On both occasions, she made the gutsy decision to have the cancer surgically eradicated. All these things. She "sucked it up". She "tuffed it out". She was a winner.

Mother was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a Cub Scout Leader and helped with Girl's Camp. She was a great example to us in practicing compassionate service. She felt compelled to assist, in some way, those who were in need of help.

In our family, Mother was the last member of her generation. She has passed the torch to this generation, but to whom this torch has been passed, we do not know. All we can ask is that the torch bearer hold the torch high, as Mother did, and light the way for us all to follow.


Gerry was preceded in death by her parents, Gene, her husband for 66 years, her daughter, Karen, and one granddaughter, Jamie. Gerry is survived by her children, Connie (Fred) Engbretson, and Rick (Terri) Clark, as well as nine grandchildren and twenty three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Anthony 3rd & 4th Ward chapel with Bishop Rod Perkins officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Bert Flamm Mortuary (581 E. 1st N., St. Anthony) and on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Wilford Cemetery.