Clark Leaphart

Clark Leaphart, 82, passed away surrounded by his family on Dec. 10, 2006.

A native of Montana, Clark spent his youth in Wyoming and later moved to Missoula. He was a graduate of the University of Montana-Missoula and a veteran of World War II.

Following the war, he worked in Provo, Utah, and Anaconda, and in 1953 he headed to Chuquicamata, Chile, where he was in charge of the chem lab and the acid plant for Chile Exploration Co.

While living in Chile, he met and married Shirley Hayes and was blessed with two children. In 1961, they decided to move back to Montana, settling in Kalispell, where they had a small cattle ranch for many years.

Clark retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Whitefish after 16 years, and in 1977, they moved to Windsor, Calif. Clark was an active member of the SIRS of Windsor. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Shirley Leaphart, of Windsor; daughter Sharon Besancon and husband Scott, of Idaho; son Mark Leaphart and wife Laura, of Folsom, Calif.; grandchildren Kristi, Katie, Tyler, Danny, David, Josh, Jeffrey and Nicole; sisters Sara O'Brien and husband Ray, of Montana, and Frances Haas, of Georgia; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

At his request, no formal services will be held.

If desired, donations in his memory may be made to Memorial Hospice, 821 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa CA 95401.