Grandma’s Eulogy
Posted by Michael K Umphrey on 11/10 at 10:30 AM
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Funeral held at the LDS church, St. Ignatius, Montana, November 9, 2004
Lettie Kent was born in Naf, Idaho to Samuel Parley Kent and Leona Talbot Kent on June 10, 1916. Her family members were some of the original white settlers in the Mission Valley and, with the Pierces, helped start the St. Ignatius branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The family moved to Charlo, Montana, where they farmed in the Moiese Valley. When Lettie was four and a half years old her mom was bedridden and it was nearly Christmas. She was not allowed to see her mom and was worried about her. Her only request for Christmas had been a baby doll and with her mom bed ridden it didn’t look like a bright Christmas. Christmas morning Lettie was called to her mother’s bedside. Her mother spoke to her saying, “Here is your baby doll you wanted for Christmas.” That baby doll was Lettie’s little sister, Verna. This is one of Lettie’s favorite stories.
At Lettie’s bedside last week Verna said of Lettie, “She is not just my sister; she is my best friend.”
Lettie went to school in Charlo where she was active in basketball, cheerleading, and music. She loved the dances and learned to fold her skirt just right to fit in her jeans so it would not wrinkle as she rode to the dances at Hillside school or Leon Hall. In fifth grade she told a friend, “I’m going to marry Nate Pierce and have 6 children”. A prediction that proved almost true. In 1934 she did marry Nate and through the years had, not 6 but 7 children. They were sealed in the Cardston Temple in the Spring of 1935. The couple established a home at Hillside. Their first baby, Loa, was born at home during an October snow storm. Their home was a converted corn crib. The doctor arrived just in time after breaking the windshield out of his model T so he could see through the storm. The bill was paid with a load of hay.
It wasn’t long until other babies, Leonard Kent (January 13, 1938), and Naett (February 7, 1939) were born. The family moved into St. Ignatius still continuing to farm. Soon two more children, Jack Albert (March 22, 1941. Is it true he started WWII?) and Nathan Alan (June 15, 1943) were added to the family. Nate served as an officer with the United States Immigration Service and the family moved to Fort Missoula.
After the outbreak of WWII, Nate was called to serve in the United States Navy and Lettie and her children moved back to St. Ignatius. Living during war time with five children at home and a husband gone to war proved a big challenge. During that time their house burned, , a child needed surgery, another was burned by hot water, her mother in law needed care, everything was rationed, Nate’s ship was attacked and sunk, but Lettie rose to each challenge with the strength for which she was know. When Nate was finally sent to recover at a hospital in Farragat, Idaho, the community rallied around the family donating ration stamps for tires and gas so she could make the trip to see her injured husband.
Many years later, when her grandson was deployed to Iraq at the beginning of the war, the same optimism and strength Lettie had shown in her own war time trials supported her own daughter as well as her grandson’s young wife.
While Nate was recuperating, Lettie worked at the Ursline school as a cook. When she saw the need she also became the girl’s basketball coach and at 75 she could still outshoot many of her grandchildren. Many girls and the nuns remained friends with Lettie. During many of her trips to California, she visited the sisters who had moved there.
After the war Nate and Lettie started their own business, Mission Electric, where the Post Office now stands. Brenda (February 8, 1950) and Valerie (February 14, 1953) were added to the family. It would seem seven children would be a full house, but not to Lettie and Nate. No one can remember a meal when only the family was there. Always there were neighbors, friends, cousins, and sometimes even whole other families at Lettie’s table. It may have been a friendly visit or an extended stay to help someone get by, but the door was always open. Country dances and community events of all types were important to Lettie and often times these celebrations continued at her home.
Life was always an adventure. A beautiful full moon was not missed by children already in bed. A summer afternoon a putting up hay might also include a trip to Mission Dam for a picnic lunch and a swim. Flowers bloomed everywhere and the summer air would always be scented with sweet petunias.
Eventually Mission Electric was closed and the family went to farming full time.
Lettie was involved in many clubs and organizations in the community. Nate and Lettie were charter members of the Saddle Club and helped to organize the first Bison Range Ride. Lettie reopened and maintained the Mission Valley Food Pantry for ten years after she turned seventy, often delivering food to families that did not have their own transportation. She worked in Relief Society, Camp Fire Girls, Young Women’s Association, Saddle Club, Foothills Club, did tutoring, Band Boosters, and school plays She held many leadership positions in her church.
As Lettie’s family grew and began to have families of their own, she was always there to support them. Weddings, new babies, house fires, lost jobs, sick and injured children and spouses, she was always there.
In 1967 Nate and Lettie moved to Sheridan, Wyoming where they lived on a ranch until 1970 when they returned to Montana.
Nate was killed in 1971 working with horses. Soon after Lettie went to work as a cook at the Holy Family Hospital. When a tray came back to the kitchen with food uneaten, Lettie was down to the patient’s room wanting to know what they wanted to eat, often creating special meals for that patient.
In 1974, she married Paul Gilbert. Paul and Lettie enjoyed traveling and spent several winters in southern California. Lettie was again widowed in 1985 when Paul passed away.
After her retirement, Lettie didn’t slow down. She was always on the go. Sometimes in her little red car to Wyoming, Spokane, Seattle, or California; other times on a plane to Hong Kong, Europe, New York, Dollywood, or maybe Canada. She was a fun companion for her children, her sisters, or a group of teenagers in Europe at age 80 years old. Lettie was always ready to go and do. She was a professional shopper from the midnight market in Hong Kong to the streets of Tijuana.
Her good works continued during her retirement and she was recognized as Lake County Senior Citizen of the year in 1995 and Montana State Senior of the year with an award from Governor Marc Raciot.
Some of her hobbies were gardening (with new petunias every year, not just any red petunia, but red and white stripped with a double bloom), horses, travel, and friendship. Lettie loved quilting, crocheting and embroidery work. As Lettie grew older she would say, “I don’t think I will give presents this Christmas.” When Christmas morning arrived she would have gifts for all. When reminded what she had said about no gifts, she would just wave us off.
Lettie had two hallmark traits, one was her quiet inner grace. She never tried to draw attention to herself; she did not seek honors, and compliments always bothered her. Lettie can be described as a woman with a “mother heart”. Her mothering influence has been felt by hundreds. . . she refined this role of nurturer to an art form. . . She continued be mother for her grandchildren and eventually her great – grandchildren. At last count there were: 7 children in Lettie’s family, plus sisters Verna and Veda and her brother Harold. Would Lettie’s sisters Verna and Veda and her brother Harold please stand. Lettie had 44 grandchildren. Would you please stand. Lettie had 111 great-grand children. Would you please stand. Lettie has 11 great-great-grand children, plus 2 on the way. Would someone hold up the little ones.
Lettie will be missed, but her memory will always be a source of inspiration and comfort to her family and friends. These are precious jewels in Lettie’s crown.
It’s hard to imagine a world without you, Grandma. It’s hard to see you go, but this world’s in better condition than when you found it. If it wasn’t we all know you would have refused to leave.
This sunset for you, November 4, 2004. We’re thankful for your joyful example
Virgil Lee “Papa” Clark
Posted by N. Eldon Umphrey on 11/29 at 03:16 PM
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Eldon inspired me. This is one of my favorite photos from the Clark clan. This is Papa Clark, Doug’s paternal grandfather, sitting on his bunk at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa in 1951. You can see from this photo where Doug gets his great smile. . .the first time Keilana saw this photo, she brought it to me excitedly shouting, “Daddy! Daddy!” It took quite a lot of effort to convince her it was actually one of her grandpas.
