Donald “Dee” Clark: 1926-2012
Donald “Dee” Clark, 85, of Hulett, WY, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Crook County Memorial Nursing Home in Sundance. This life ended of complications due to Parkinson’s disease.
Memorials have been established to benefit the Greater Hulett Community Center and the Hulett E.M.S.
Donald Dean “Dee” Clark was born Dec. 8, 1926, to Lewis Henry Clark and Louise Ethel (Atkinson) Clark at the family homestead on TL Creek, a tributary of the Little Missouri River, north of New Haven, WY.
Dee’s formative years were with older brother, Walter, younger brother, Willis and sister, Shirley, living on TL Creek for five years and then west of the then bustling town of New Haven, grade school was an easy horseback ride or walk away. Summers were spent with cousins and community kids and engaging in the family’s sawmill and ranching activities. Dee went to high school in Sundance for two years, before working for Earl Ike, which is now the IPY.
Dee married Barbara Agnes Stoddard on Dec. 24, 1950, and created a truly loving partnership that complemented each other for 61 years. To this union three children were born; Merle Jay (Susan), Denise Kay (David) and Cleve Alan (Doneen). A series of ranch leases and employments included with Lewis Clark, Thorval Jensen, Frank Proctor, Middle Creek, Belle Fourche Livestock Exchange, Steiger’s JH Ranch and Trusty and Sonny Moore. Dee possessed natural abilities with horses, dogs and livestock and enjoyed the neighborhood activities of ranch life. With the help of Barbara, they formed a successful family sized operation, based on Elkhorn Creek in Crook County. Dee was active in the Hulett Roping Club, served on school boards, cooperative boards and was a Summit National Bank Board Member and he backed his positions with time and treasure.
In 2006, the Clark’s retired from ranching and moved to Hulett. Dee was preceded in death by his brothers, Walter and Willis and his son, Cleve.
Survivors include his wife Barbara Clark of Hulett, his son, Merle Clark and wife Susan of Hulett, daughter, Denise Wagner and husband David of Hulett, sister, Shirley Anderson and husband Don of Hulett, sister-in-law, Gladys Clark of Hulett, grandchildren; Justin and (Sylvia) Wagner, Jodi (Tom) Edwards, Jared Wagner, Danya Clark, Darcy Clark, Curtis Clark, Spencer (Karyn) Clark, Sydne (Tim) Muratore, Lauren Clark and Mitchell Clark and five great-grandchildren.
