Clarine Elizabeth Harker

Clarine Elizabeth Harker, 91, of Whitefish, died and gracefully took her place among the angels on Sept. 22, 2012 at Bee Hive Homes, an assisted living facility in Columbia Falls.

Clarine was born Dec. 14, 1920, in Sturgis, S.D., to Charles and Philomene Baker, one of eight children. She met and married the love of her life, Arthur Bailliss Harker, and they raised seven children. They moved several times during their married life from South Dakota to Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey and finally settled in Montana. In addition to their home in Whitefish, they spent much of their time at the family cabin, Harker’s Cougar Den, near Polebridge.

Clarine loved socializing, flowers, traveling and all things romantic. After Art died in 1997 she spent many hours volunteering for various service organizations including North Valley Food Bank, The Ladies Auxiliary VFW, the American Legion, and Women of the Moose Lodge. At the time of her death she was an active member of St. Charles Catholic Church.

Clarine was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Art; son, James Harker; daughter, Virginia Slater;, and grandsons, Jeffrey Born and Dennis Poncelet. She is survived by daughters, Carol (Fred) Born, of Hamilton, N.J., Margaret “Peggy” Anderson, of Dillon, Loretta (Nick) Poncelet, Barbara “Buzzie” (Ric) Anderson, of Whitefish; and son, Jeff (Sheila) Harker, of Columbia Falls. She enjoyed spending time with her 25 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren, and many very special nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Charles Barromeo Church on Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Glacier Memorial Gardens immediately following. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to be made to the Wounded Warriors Organization or the North Valley Food Bank.

You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences, share memories and view Clarine’s tribute wall.

Arrangements entrusted to Austin Funeral Home.