Beverly Jane (Clark) Williams

Missoula - Bev was born on July 1, 1939 in Sandpoint, Idaho to Francis (Stub) and Pearl Clark. She passed away on July 12, 2024, with her loving family at her bedside.

Bev grew up in a small ranching community in Northern Idaho alongside her many cousins. Her mother’s family had moved from North Dakota to Idaho during the depression with many aunts and uncles, and their families in tow creating a tight-knit community. She and her sister, Barb, walked to and from a one-room schoolhouse every day through eighth grade.  She later attended Priest River High School, graduating at 17 and valedictorian of her class.

After high school, she married Gerald Linton, and they had two children: Jerry and Michele.  Six years later they divorced, and she and the kids moved to Missoula.  She absolutely loved it there; even the name, Missoula, seemed magical to her. 

Bev believed in hard work, so it was no surprise that she held down two jobs to make ends meet for her young family. For a while, she worked the night shift at White Pine and Sash, and she waited on tables at 4B’s restaurant during the day.

It was at 4B’s that she met the love of her life, Gordon (Flash) Williams. They had a storybook love for each other. To her, he was bigger than life, and to him she could do no wrong.  When they married, he was co-owner/manager of Missoula Auto Race Track on upper Miller Creek Road. This kept their weekends busy, but they still found time for league bowling, dancing (him on roller skates at times), camping, fishing, and traveling the state of Montana. Later, they had motorcycles and often took them to Las Vegas or Reno to ride. She would only ride if the weather was warm, 90 or above. Gordon’s daughter, Ginny, joined the family in 1969.  She fit right in, and they became 5.

In 1967, while out for a drive with Gordon, Bev spotted a new business under construction on the corner of Orange and Front streets.  She decided to apply for a job there and was hired as the first hostess/clerk at Missoula’s SuperAmerica, later known as Holiday.  She worked for the company for the next 31 years, at every Missoula location except one, eventually managing each of them and finishing her career at the 4th and Higgins store.  She retired in 1998.

For Bev, retirement meant more time to spend on her passions.  She loved hanging out with her grandchildren, often giggling through late-night Yahtzee on the back patio, or having everyone pile into her little red sportscar to go shopping ‘til they all dropped. She bowled two days a week, played pinochle two days a week, did a short stint answering phones at the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, and she gardened.  She had a passion for gardening that was obvious to anyone who saw her beautifully landscaped back yard; it was truly her happy place.  She was a member of the Rose Society for several years, which gave her cause to add more roses to any empty spots in her flower beds.  Most days she pedaled 8 miles on her stationary bike, but she always took Wednesdays off from everything, saying she didn’t want to overdo it.

Shortly before retirement, Bev was fortunate to meet someone to share her world travels with. Mick Kron had come into Holiday and asked her out, starting a great friendship that lasted over twenty years.  They became involved with Widows and Widowers Club, making many friends. They traveled on a senior excursion to Europe together, and she fell in love with Spain. They also went to Hawaii, and were grounded in Los Angeles on 9/11 on their return flight. They loved supporting and attending Lady Griz games, purchasing season tickets every year. He joined her in bowling and pinochle until his passing in 2021.

Bev’s last month was a whirlwind of travel for her. She took two weekend trips to Spokane to visit her sister Barb, and to tour her parents’ and grandparents’ ranches in Priest River, Idaho, visiting friends she hadn’t seen in decades. On another trip she attended a family reunion and celebrated a cousin’s milestone birthday.  Finally, her travels were topped off with attending her great grandson’s wedding at Garrison, MT.  She celebrated her 85th birthday on July 1st, with her favorite food, coconut shrimp, and receiving the long-awaited 85% off at The Montana Club.

God blesses you in the most unforeseen ways. She was loved and will be missed by so many.

Bev is survived by her sister, Barb Eller of Spokane, WA; her children, Jerry Linton (Patrick Nooney) of Missoula; Michele (Don) Kisler of Kalispell, Ginny (Clint) Elkins of Missoula; Russell (Bernadine) Williams of Matlock, WA; grandchildren Holly (Jake) Furlong of Carson City, NV; Christi Andersen of Lake Stevens, WA; Leslie (Ben) Moody of Kalispell; Lisa Moore of Missoula; Scott Elkins of Missoula; nephew Jan (Teresa) Eller of Spokane, WA; and great grandchildren Makayla, Jonas, Allyson, Evelyn, Rachael, Sophie, Oliver, Molly, Isaiah, Seth, and Dalton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and stepson Jim Williams.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

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