Raymond Eli ‘Pete’ Clausen

Raymond Eli 'Pete' Clausen

Raymond Eli "Pete" Clausen of Zortman passed away the evening of February 21, 2011, at Northern Montana Care Center, following a many-year battle with Alzheimer's. Memorial service will follow in the spring. Memorial contributions in Pete's honor may be made to the Montana State University-Northern Foundation Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1691 Havre, MT 59501 or to the Space For Grace, c/o NMHF, P.O. Box 1231 Havre, Montana 59501. Services were entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Pete was born June 6, 1927, in Malta to Edward and Blanche Clausen. His father died when he was 11 years old. He attended elementary school in Malta until halfway through the sixth grade, when he moved to Ruby Gulch with his mother and stepfather, Harry Combs, who worked at the Ruby Gulch Mill. A few years later, they moved to Great Falls, where he attended Great Falls High for three years, completing his last high school year by correspondence while in the Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor.

Through his high school years he worked on his Uncle Barney's ranch during summers south of Malta, no doubt where he learned how to work. Something he always mentioned is not taught anymore. Following his first discharge from the Navy, he spent a year in Spokane, Wash. where he attended the Cheney Art School. Because of his tremendous artistic talent, a man by the name of Walt Disney offered him a job in California, but Pete declined and headed home to Montana. He was a very artistic person, very good with his hands. He enjoyed doing artwork throughout his life when time permitted. He later spent two additional stints in the Navy as a naval recruiter, once in Great Falls and once in Helena. Following that time, Pete worked with H-O Parts supply as they introduced business at several locations around Montana.

Pete married Joyce Flesche of Malta November 21, 1954, while working at the Malta Motors Ford garage in Malta as parts man. Later he became owner of the Enco bulk plant in Malta, delivering fuel around Phillips County, sometimes with his three young sons bouncing around the cab. He became a partner in Clausen-Long Ford dealership after that, along with Phillips bulk fuel distributorship and gas/tire station in Malta. Pete also began selling and building Eaton grain bins in 1960, then going with Behlen Building Systems in 1961 after meeting Chub Park, selling and building grain bins, Curvets, and metal buildings, primarily in the Phillips County area.

He was proud to have been a long time school board member with the Malta school system. He also was a member of the Malta Lutheran Church, Toastmasters, and the VFW. He enjoyed several years as a Montana fish and game commissioner, forever wearing the badges on his favorite cowboy hat. While serving on the Commission, he was instrumental in the creation of the Montana Outdoors publication.

In 1972 he left the fuel and car business in Malta, moving his family to the small mining town Zortman in the Little Rocky Mountains, an area the family loved and had spent most weekends in over the previous years, so why not move there permanently. Pete kept the building business so that he could involve his whole family with work in a place he thought was the perfect setting in the mountains. Together with his family, Pete built a successful construction company, Pete Clausen and Sons. With his guidance and work ethic, the business steadily grew and was a source of great pride for him. He enjoyed the time working in the mountains with the rise and fall of Pegasus Gold, a time when home was close to work. He loved the Little Rocky Mountains, the Missouri River Breaks and the Larb Hills — and any time spent there, or with the people who lived there, whether working or recreating.

Pete loved rides in the country, anywhere in southern Phillips County, hunting, shooting, or exploring. He loved visiting with people about the history of the area, politics, and life in general. He loved turning the countryside he explored into wonderful works of art. He loved being and working with his family. He was a square, honest, hard working man. Pete retired from the business in 1993 and remained in Zortman as long as he was able. His beautiful wife, Joyce, passed away May 20, 1998. After spending 44 years of marriage with her, losing Joyce really took the wind out of his sails. Shortly thereafter, Alzheimer's began its ugly process.

Pete and Joyce had five children, David Clausen of Havre, Robert (Rachel) of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Fountain Hills, Ariz., Brent (Rhonada) of Ukiah, Calif., Colleen (Kelly) Murray of Malta, and Kelly (Scott) Koteles of Tucson, Ariz. Grandchildren Melissa (fiancé Chris Pappas) Murray, Kenny (Diedra) Murray, Jake (Mary) Murray, Autumn (Curt) Lineweaver, Charlotte Clausen, Remington and Isabelle Clausen, Tess and Elle Clausen, and Makena and Macyn Koteles, and great grandson Kellen Murray. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Clausen, his mother, Blanche Combs, his brother John (Laura) Clausen of Malta and sisters Eleanor (Irwin) Wink of Havre and Bigfork and Grace (Rene) Loyd of Spokane.

Those who knew Pete, and who had the honor of calling him "friend, " will never forget him. He was the best son, father, grandfather, brother, and husband anyone could ever have. Pete was "a man's man, " generous and loyal to the very end.

Raymond Eli "Pete" Clausen of Zortman passed away the evening of February 21, 2011, at Northern Montana Care Center, following a many-year battle with Alzheimer's. Memorial service will follow in the spring. Memorial contributions in Pete's honor may be made to the Montana State University-Northern Foundation Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1691 Havre, MT 59501 or to the Space For Grace, c/o NMHF, P.O. Box 1231 Havre, Montana 59501. Services were entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Pete was born June 6, 1927, in Malta to Edward and Blanche Clausen. His father died when he was 11 years old. He attended elementary school in Malta until halfway through the sixth grade, when he moved to Ruby Gulch with his mother and stepfather, Harry Combs, who worked at the Ruby Gulch Mill. A few years later, they moved to Great Falls, where he attended Great Falls High for three years, completing his last high school year by correspondence while in the Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor.

Through his high school years he worked on his Uncle Barney's ranch during summers south of Malta, no doubt where he learned how to work. Something he always mentioned is not taught anymore. Following his first discharge from the Navy, he spent a year in Spokane, Wash. where he attended the Cheney Art School. Because of his tremendous artistic talent, a man by the name of Walt Disney offered him a job in California, but Pete declined and headed home to Montana. He was a very artistic person, very good with his hands. He enjoyed doing artwork throughout his life when time permitted. He later spent two additional stints in the Navy as a naval recruiter, once in Great Falls and once in Helena. Following that time, Pete worked with H-O Parts supply as they introduced business at several locations around Montana.

Pete married Joyce Flesche of Malta November 21, 1954, while working at the Malta Motors Ford garage in Malta as parts man. Later he became owner of the Enco bulk plant in Malta, delivering fuel around Phillips County, sometimes with his three young sons bouncing around the cab. He became a partner in Clausen-Long Ford dealership after that, along with Phillips bulk fuel distributorship and gas/tire station in Malta. Pete also began selling and building Eaton grain bins in 1960, then going with Behlen Building Systems in 1961 after meeting Chub Park, selling and building grain bins, Curvets, and metal buildings, primarily in the Phillips County area.

He was proud to have been a long time school board member with the Malta school system. He also was a member of the Malta Lutheran Church, Toastmasters, and the VFW. He enjoyed several years as a Montana fish and game commissioner, forever wearing the badges on his favorite cowboy hat. While serving on the Commission, he was instrumental in the creation of the Montana Outdoors publication.

In 1972 he left the fuel and car business in Malta, moving his family to the small mining town Zortman in the Little Rocky Mountains, an area the family loved and had spent most weekends in over the previous years, so why not move there permanently. Pete kept the building business so that he could involve his whole family with work in a place he thought was the perfect setting in the mountains. Together with his family, Pete built a successful construction company, Pete Clausen and Sons. With his guidance and work ethic, the business steadily grew and was a source of great pride for him. He enjoyed the time working in the mountains with the rise and fall of Pegasus Gold, a time when home was close to work. He loved the Little Rocky Mountains, the Missouri River Breaks and the Larb Hills — and any time spent there, or with the people who lived there, whether working or recreating.

Pete loved rides in the country, anywhere in southern Phillips County, hunting, shooting, or exploring. He loved visiting with people about the history of the area, politics, and life in general. He loved turning the countryside he explored into wonderful works of art. He loved being and working with his family. He was a square, honest, hard working man. Pete retired from the business in 1993 and remained in Zortman as long as he was able. His beautiful wife, Joyce, passed away May 20, 1998. After spending 44 years of marriage with her, losing Joyce really took the wind out of his sails. Shortly thereafter, Alzheimer's began its ugly process.

Pete and Joyce had five children, David Clausen of Havre, Robert (Rachel) of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Fountain Hills, Ariz., Brent (Rhonada) of Ukiah, Calif., Colleen (Kelly) Murray of Malta, and Kelly (Scott) Koteles of Tucson, Ariz. Grandchildren Melissa (fiancé Chris Pappas) Murray, Kenny (Diedra) Murray, Jake (Mary) Murray, Autumn (Curt) Lineweaver, Charlotte Clausen, Remington and Isabelle Clausen, Tess and Elle Clausen, and Makena and Macyn Koteles, and great grandson Kellen Murray. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Clausen, his mother, Blanche Combs, his brother John (Laura) Clausen of Malta and sisters Eleanor (Irwin) Wink of Havre and Bigfork and Grace (Rene) Loyd of Spokane.

Those who knew Pete, and who had the honor of calling him "friend, " will never forget him. He was the best son, father, grandfather, brother, and husband anyone could ever have. Pete was "a man's man, " generous and loyal to the very end.