Rebecca Mae “Becky” Clark, age 78, of Poplar, MT passed away Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Poplar Nursing Home.
Rebecca was born September 2, 1932 in Poplar to Thomas and Bessie Melbourne. She was raised in Riverside until age 19 when she moved to Brockton. She attended schools in Brockton. Her greatest accomplishments were completing her G.E.D. and being the mother of nine great children.
Becky married Charles T. “Chuck” Clark Sr. on January 30, 1956 in Wolf Point, MT. Chuck passed away February 14, 1983 after 27 years of marriage.
She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church and involved in the Ladies Alter Society for a number of years. Becky served as a council woman on the T.E.B., was a housekeeper at the Poplar Community Hospital, and along with her husband Chuck owned and operated a gas station and convenience store for a number of years.
Becky loved to paint and write poems. She was also an avid gardener, sharing her harvest with anyone who needed it. Her greatest enjoyments were playing bingo with her friends, which were many. Becky was the matriarch of the family, “our rock, always there when we needed her”.
Becky is survived by her children, Gary James Melbourne (Alice) of Brockton, Tom Clark, Sr. (Linda) of Brockton, David Clark (Joanne) of Nevada, Bonnie Gundlach (Vince) of Miles City, MT, John Clark (Gwen) of Poplar, William Clark, Sr. of Miles City, Joyce Parker (Russell) of Poplar, and Robin Clark (Merilee) of Poplar; her grandchildren, Holly, Elizabeth, BJ, Montana, Antoinette, Josie, Tom Jr., Chuck, Ben, Landa, John, Stacey, Ashta, Mickey, Josh, Bill Jr., Ciera, Kristian, Mandi, Ryan, Rusti, James, Krysta, Trenton, Charles, Cruz; along with her 33 great-grandchildren; her one living sibling and best friend Susan Cheek of Brockton; her one living uncle, Joe Jones; her special nieces and nephews, Linda Melbourne (Todd), Charlene Cheek, Donna Yellow Hammer (Errol), and Clifton Cheek (Angie) and all their children and grandchildren. Rebecca came from a very large family consisting of the Jones, Melbournes, White Hawks, Birds, Longees, too numerous to mention but still very special to Becky; also, all her bingo buddies who shared special memories.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles T. Clark, Sr.; her son, Charles T. Clark, Jr.; her parents, Tom and Bessie Melbourne; sisters, Faye Bird, Thelma Melbourne, Wilma “Peggy” Melbourne and Martha Melbourne; brothers, Thomas “Turby” Melbourne Jr., Calvin Melbourne and Samson Melbourne; grandchildren, Bronson Charbonneau, Johnnie McClammy, Thomas Jerome, Christopher Melbourne, Felony Swan and Thomasina First; aunts, Gladys Lewis, Alvis Bird, Agnes White Hawk, Jessie Walking Eagle and Lucy Spotted Bird; and uncles, Frank Jones, Earl Jones, Steve Melbourne, Philmore Melbourne and Ralph Melbourne.
A Vigil Service will be held Monday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 22 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Francis Schreiber as celebrant. Interment will follow at Riverside Catholic Cemetery east of Poplar.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.