Marcellyn Clogg

Marcellyn “Marcie” Dee Clogg, 57, passed away at North Valley Hospital on Sept. 11, 2007, after living successfully with cancer for more than six years.

Born and raised in rural Iowa, Marcie attended Gates Business College in Waterloo, Iowa, following her high school graduation in Greene, Iowa, in 1968. She finished a 12-month secretarial course in a record-breaking five months.

Soon thereafter, she began a career with the Social Security Administration, where she remained for more than 16 years. In 1986, she transferred to the National Park Service at Glacier National Park and became secretary to superintendent Gil Lusk. She often described those next four years as the absolute best and happiest in her life.

In 1990, she accepted a promotion in the Alaska Region of the National Park Service. She and her family lived in Anchorage until 1995, when she became eligible for early retirement.

Between 1995 and 2001, Marcie, husband Steve and son Jamie lived in Wisconsin, Georgia and Alabama, before returning and making Whitefish their permanent home.

It was in Alaska that she was introduced to the world of dog mushing and the world famous Iditarod dog sled race. She treasured the years of involvement in the sport and remained active as a recreational musher until recently.

In her single years, Marcie’s first love was her flute. Her accomplishments were many, performing for hundreds and thousands, playing everything from classical music to jam sessions with Las Vegas bands and recording artists in Nashville.

In recent years, her passion became the source of many wonderful stories and jokes. Known as the “Dumpster Diva,” Marcie showed no shame when it came to retrieving others’ throwaways from Dumpsters, sorting through it, and re-donating it to needy organizations and individuals.

Marcie was a diehard Bulldog basketball fan, which culminated with Whitefish winning the Class A NW regional this last winter with her son as starting post and receiving all-tournament honors.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert L. Curtis.

Survivors include very best friend and treasured husband of 23 years Steve; 18-year-old son Jamie; stepdaughter Josalyn Nordenstrom and her son AJ, of Minnesota; mother Phyllis Curtis, of Columbia Falls; sister Sandy Curtis, of Minnesota; nieces Kristen and Kim Hesalroad, of New Mexico and Texas; and numerous aunts and cousins.

Also considered as family left behind are Pam Barker and Craig Conklin, of British Columbia, and their original team of Siberian huskies, the Nite Flite Kennel, Knik, Kaltag, Kiana, Koyuk, Kinley, Kash and Kavik, and their many kennel mates.

Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers or monetary donations, Marcie hoped friends would instead volunteer a bit of time occasionally to an ailing one by taking their dog for a walk.