On the morning of December 4, 2013, Cleo was carried by angels to be with her Lord and Savior.
Cleo Bell (Belcher) Camrud was born in Williston, ND on December 29, 1921 to Rachel Sophia (Olson) Belcher and Max Casper Belcher.
In 1924, they moved to Montana to homestead south of the river, close to Spring Coulee. She was the second oldest of seven children. She had four brothers, Harold, Louis, Walter, and James, and two sisters, Dorothy and Barbara.
In 1935, she met and married Floyd Denney and a son, Lloyd was born to them. They divorced and Cleo went to Seattle with her sister, Barbara. She worked for Boeing as a “Rosie Riveter”. Later she moved to San Diego, CA and worked in an amusement park as a photographer and it was there she met Renald Valkenburg. They married and moved to San Francisco, CA.
In the summer of 1958, Cleo gave her life to the Lord at the First Southern Baptist Church, Paradise City in Phoenix, AZ, where her brother Louis was pastoring. Renald became a Baptist Minister and they adopted three children, Stephen, Patricia (Whitright), and Ann (Baker). They ministered in various churches in California and eventually the marriage was dissolved.
Cleo, with her children, Steve, Patricia, and Ann, moved to Crestline, CA in the San Bernardino Mountains. She worked at the local restaurant, and then in a Christian Bible Camp in Big Bear. In August of 1969, she moved with her children to Wolf Point, MT and married Iver Camrud, but later divorced.
She worked as a cook in various restaurants, finally settling at the Trinity Hospital kitchen.
She wanted to further her education and received her GED in June of 1978. She went on to take a college course, Survey of Nutritional Sciences, and received a certificate from the Hospital, Institution, and Educational Food Service Society.
After Trinity Hospital closed their kitchen, she was transferred to the Faith Lutheran Home kitchen. She was a hard worker and never complained. She would go out of her way to meet the needs of patients and employees. Many co-workers have a story to tell of how she went “that extra mile” to meet theirs, or a patient’s needs.
After breaking her arm, she was unable to lift heavy things, so not willing to stop working; she transferred to the Alzheimer’s unit as a helping hand. She was so patient and caring for the residents and would often console them with gently holding their hands or rubbing their backs. She would sing to them and sometimes get them to dance with her to some country tunes, always leaving them with a smile. She finally retired at the age of 86.
She enjoyed yard sales, her animals, fishing, and playing cards.
Cleo was preceded in death by her brothers, Harold, Walter, and James; and sisters, Barbara and Dorothy.
Cleo is survived by one brother, Louis Belcher (Mary) of Great Falls, MT; four children, Lloyd Denney (Cathy) of Sunnyvale, CA, Stephen Valkenburg of Casper, WY and Patricia Whitright (Boyd) of Wolf Point, and Ann Baker of Havre, MT; 11 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; a special niece, Donna Loberg; and a special nephew, Johnny Belcher.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family using the form below.