Clarine 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 thereafter 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, and 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, 13 great great grandchildren, and many very special nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Whitefish on Sept. 26, 2012, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Organization or the North Valley Food Bank.