Clarice Brekke

Clarice Helen Brekke passed away on Aug. 26, 2015, from cancer, at the age of 86, while a patient at the RiverStone Health Hospice House on the campus of St. John's Lutheran Ministries in Billings.

Clarice was born to Clarence and Pansy Gunderson on Aug. 22, 1929, at the Gunderson family homestead in the Navajo community in eastern Daniels County, Mont., where she was raised along with her younger brother Milton. Though born just before the start of the Great Depression, she had a wonderful childhood, in part because her family raised most of their own food.

Clarice attended the Navajo country school through eighth grade and then attended Scobey High School, graduating in 1946. Because she "played school" with her disabled grandmother (who lived with the family), Clarice started school a year early and took two grades in one year, thereby graduating high school at the age of 16. She next attended The University of Montana (then known as Montana State University) and The University of Montana-Western (then known as Western Montana College of Education), after which she taught school at the North Navajo county school during the 1947-48 school year and the Madoc county school during the 1948-49 school year. While teaching, she met Norman Brekke, who had recently moved to Scobey from North Dakota. Clarice and Norman married in January of 1949 at Scobey Lutheran Church and, shortly thereafter, Clarice quit teaching school to start and raise a family. She and Norman had four children: Janice San Marco (Lou), now of the Cleveland area; Dick Brekke (Tamara), now of Billings; Bob Brekke, now of Billings; and Carla Brekke (Lamont), now of New York City.

Clarice and Norman had a very busy life in Scobey, raising four children, owning and operating the Ford garage and farms and being actively involved in church and civic affairs. When the children were older, Clarice resumed teaching at Scobey Schools and earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1971 and a master's degree in education in 1982, both from Montana State University-Northern (then known as Northern Montana College). She thoroughly enjoyed both attending and teaching school. Clarice's church and civic affairs in Scobey included Scobey Lutheran Church, Women's Club, Eastern Star and Delta Kappa Gamma Society. She loved to read and play bridge with her many "bridge buddies," most of whom were or became close friends. She was a very kind, calm and content person who was interested in the world around her and beyond. This made her a great role model for her children and grandchildren.

Norman passed away in January of 1994 and Clarice retired from teaching in May of 1995. She was inducted into the Scobey School Hall of Fame in 1996. For years after retirement she fondly recounted humorous "teaching" stories (some of which only a fellow teacher could appreciate). After retirement, Clarice continued her busy life with family and friends, and traveled the U.S. and the world extensively (many times with her daughter Carla). Her world travel included tours of Venezuela, Europe, Great Britain, Canada, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean Islands. She also made numerous trips to Cleveland to visit her granddaughters and New York City to visit Carla.

Although very fond of Daniels County, in 2004, Clarice moved to Billings to be closer to specialized health care and her grandsons. She lived at Mission Ridge in Billings from 2004 until her passing. She thoroughly enjoyed her life at Mission Ridge and in Billings, making many new and close friends and enjoying visits from her Daniels County family and friends. She took full advantage of activities at Mission Ridge, including exercise classes, bible studies, happy hours and (of course) many bridge games. In Billings her activities included family gatherings, grandsons' sporting activities, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Red Hatters, Global Grannies, monthly Daniels County breakfasts, and Alberta Bair Theater and Billings Studio Theatre productions. She also enjoyed her periodic trips back to Scobey, particularly for the annual Pioneer Days celebration.

Clarice was predeceased by her parents, her husband and a grandson. She is survived by her four children; five grandchildren, Kristen San Marco, Mallory San Marco, Kyle Brekke (Ally), Marc Brekke and Kurt Brekke; a step-grandson, James Thelen; her brother and sister-in-law, Milton and Jere Lee Gunderson; a sister-in-law, Irene Durtsche; and many nieces and nephews.

Cremation has occurred. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Billings, and at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at Scobey Lutheran Church in Scobey. Interment of ashes will be at the Scobey Cemetery next to Norman.

Memorials may be made to Scobey Lutheran Church, Beacon Community Foundation, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Billings Clinic, St. John's Foundation or a charity of your choice. Clarice's family is appreciative of the care she received over the years from healthcare providers at Daniels County Memorial Hospital, St. John's Lutheran Home, Billings Clinic, Advanced Care Hospital of Montana and RiverStone Health Hospice House.