Lyle Clow, 94, of Helena, passed away on February 4, 2013, due to complications from COPD. Born in Lewistown, Montana, on December 22, 1918 to Frank and Edith Clow, Lyle grew up on a Central Montana homestead, where he developed irrepressible vigor and resilience, as well as perennial cheerfulness. He attended a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade, then boarded in Lewistown while attending FergusCountyHigh School. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Montana State College in Bozeman. After graduating in 1940, he landed a dream job working for the John Deere Tractor Company in Waterloo, Iowa. He took a Civil Service Test with one of his friends as a lark and ended up with a job in Washington, D.C., working for the Department of Defense. During WWII he served first in the Army Air Corps, then the Army. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Chief of Ordnance at the Pentagon. It was there that he met and fell in love with Helen Filipovich, who was working in the typing pool. They were married on July 14, 1943 in Passaic, New Jersey. Lyle was posted briefly in Texas, and then shipped out to the Pacific Theater. After VJ day he served in the Army of Occupation in Japan. He finally returned to the U.S. in 1946 and he and Helen moved to Helena, where Lyle started his engineering career at the American Smelting and Refining Company in East Helena. He retired from the smelter in 1983.
Once settled in Helena, Lyle and Helen had a daughter, Diana, and a son, Michael. Lyle created countless adventures for his family as he indulged his passion for camping and travel. He introduced his kids to the love of the outdoors by taking them with him hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. He served as a Scoutmaster and showed a lot of other people’s kids the wonders of the outdoors as well. This enthusiastic outdoorsman got his last elk just a month shy of his 82nd birthday. Lyle and Helen celebrated 58 years of marriage before she passed away in 2001.
Lyle was a dedicated member of the Masons, York Rite and Shriners. He enjoyed the camaraderie of these fraternal organizations and the good works they supported. For more than 60 years, he was a member of St. Paul’s MethodistChurch. He gladly ushered, counted the collection and served as a member of the Finance and Building Committees.
He loved restoring old farm tractors, on steel wheels – no rubber tires, please. He ended up with a gleaming dark green Hart Paar and a John Deere, both of them fully operational. He left behind a partially completed Case and a Minneapolis, along with stacks of parts and piles of scrap iron.
Those who left the earth ahead of Lyle include daughter, Diana, his brother, Leslie, and his wife, Helen. He was also preceded in death by outdoor buddies Fritz Casey, Gus Herrera and Herb Jacobson.
For over 70 years, Lyle cultivated a close friendship with Herb Jacobson and his family of Helena. Although Herb passed away in 1995, Lyle maintained his connection with the Jacobsons. After Helen’s death in 2001, Lyle was included in many Jacobson family gatherings. What began in 2002 as a two year platonic relationship between Joyce Jacobson, Herb’s widow, and Lyle, evolved into a deep romance, resulting in their July 7, 2007 marriage. Additionally, as a result of this union, Lyle became a stepfather to Joyce’s children – Hal, Jan, Garth and Heidi.
Lyle is survived by his wife, Joyce Jacobson, son, Mike (Carol), step-grandsons Chad Weaver (Shawna), Eric Weaver (Stefanie), great-granddaughters Audrey and one due to arrive in Germany at the end of this month, as well as stepsons Hal (Mary) and Garth (Cindy Demeules) and stepdaughters Jan (Mike) and Heidi. He also leaves behind his second set of outdoor buddies, Dan Mehus, Kevin Cox, Kamlin Cox, Gary Duncan and his musical friend and curator of jokes, Kerry Brown.
The family invites you to join them in a time of sharing and remembrances of Lyle beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening February 13, 2013 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Avenue. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 15, 2013 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. A reception will be held following the memorial service in the fellowship hall in the lower level of the church. Interment with military honors will be at Forestvale Cemetery. Please visit below to offer the family condolences or share a memory of Lyle.
Memorials may be sent to the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Building Fund, 512 Logan, Helena, MT, 59601, or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 911 W. Fifth Avenue, Spokane, WA99204.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jim Maher, Jennifer Black, the staff of Renaissance Senior Care and the staff of Rocky Mountain Hospice, especially caregiver extraordinaire, Louis Sheldahl, for their loving care in Lyle’s final months.
Service Schedule
Family and Friends Service
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 13, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Memorial Service
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Friday February 15, 2013
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
512 Logan
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
Following the Memorial Service
Friday February 15, 2013
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
512 Logan
Helena, Montana 596901
Interment
Following the reception.
Friday February 15, 2013
Forestvale Cemetery
Helena, MT 59602
Service Schedule
Family and Friends Service
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 13, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Memorial Service
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Friday February 15, 2013
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
512 Logan
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
Following the Memorial Service
Friday February 15, 2013
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
512 Logan
Helena, Montana 596901
Interment
Following the reception.
Friday February 15, 2013
Forestvale Cemetery
Helena, MT 59602
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Anissa Mixon says
I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family. Losing a loved one can be so heartbreaking but keeping them in your memory is what keeps you going. I hope that a favorite scripture of many found at Revelation 21:3, 4 can be a comfort to all of you. Your family will be in my prayers.
Lisa (Herrera) Blanford says
We have many fond memories of Lyle but especially his beaming, big smile. What a wonderful person and good friend to many, including our father. Sincere sympathy to the entire family.
Lisa, Rick, Dan, Steve, & Ron
The children of Gus & Inge Herrera
J Johnson says
Dear Family and Friends of Lyle Clow – I want to express sincere condolences over the loss of Mr. Clow. Losing a loved one is something we all wish we never had to go through. Thankfully, within his word the Bible, God promises us that soon “death will be no more” (Revelation 21:4). God also gives us the hope of seeing our loved ones who have already fallen asleep in death ( John 5:28,29). The Bible book of Hebrews reminds us that God does not forget all of the love and fine works shown by Lyle Clow (Heb 6:10). I hope that you receive comfort from these thoughts.
Dee (Herrera) Marshall says
Dear Mike and family: We grew up sharing wonderful times at the Clow home and are so very thankful for having known Lyle, kind Helen and sweet daughter and sister, Diane. My parents considered your parents to be best friends. Your dad was smart, humble, kind and always ethical and I admired him very much. Your mother was so patient and gentle. All of us who knew your parents and sister have been touched in life by a sweet blessing…may memories comfort you all and may this time be a celebration of a wonderful life gifted by God.
With love,
Dee (Herrera) Marshall and Sigurd Herrera
Children of Inge and Gus Herrera