Roberta Rae Clarke passed away peacefully, following a brief illness, in Helena on June 18, 2011 with her family at her side.
A true daughter of Montana, Roberta was born Nov. 25, 1937, in Miles City and proudly lived most of her life in our state. Her parents, both deceased, were William Boyce Clarke and Marjorie Hungerford Clarke. Her brother Thomas Clarke is a life-long Miles City resident.
Roberta graduated from Custer County High School, Class of 1955 and attended Eastern Montana College for one year. On Sept. 16, 1956, she married another Miles City native, Leo Richard Neiffer. Together, they had two children, Steven Paul and Kathryn Ann, and in 1964 this family settled in Ennis where Leo purchased a pharmacy. Leo passed away in 1975.
In the late 1960s, Roberta and Leo brought the two infant sons of Dr. Gene C. Wilkins into their home and raised them as their own children for several years. In many respects, this was one of the happiest times in Roberta’s life. Dr. Wilkins’ son Jay lives with his wife Heidi and their children in Belgrade, and son James lives with his children in Helena. Both families remain close to Roberta.
Roberta moved to the Helena area in the early 2000’s, where she became active in the First Presbyterian Church, her Canyon Ferry community and as a volunteer in other community organizations. She lavished great love and attention on all the grandchildren in her life: those of her own family, those of the Wilkins’ family and those of her brother Tom.
Roberta’s life is celebrated by her children’s families: Steven Neiffer and Eric Lassiter of Los Angeles, and Kathryn and Don Dolese of Missoula. Roberta’s grandchildren, through Kathryn, are Lauren Rogers, Christian Segota and Colin Dolese. Her eight-month-old great-granddaughter, through Lauren, is Emery Rogers.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers at St. Peter’s Hospice in Helena, and especially Roberta’s in-home caregiver in her final weeks, Loma Vinson. The family also wishes to thank Roberta’s friends and neighbors in Canyon Ferry, who stood by her side in the many happy years she spent there and whose support during her brief illness was heartwarming.
Visitation will be on Friday, June 24, 2011 with the family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, MT. A graveside service will be held at the Custer County Cemetery on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
“Love is patient, love is kind … love never fails … And now, these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
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