Cleve Malmstrom

Cleve A. Malmstrom, of Whitefish, Montana drowned while fly fishing on the Missouri River near Craig, Montana on a beautiful afternoon June 20, 2014, at almost age 42.

Cleve was born June 24, 1972 in Billings to Marcia K. Wall and Donald N. Malmstrom Jr. He attended grade school in Rosebud, Gardiner and Helena, graduating from Helena High in 1990. He played football, basketball and ran track as a little kid and became an outstanding running back for the Bengals during his high school years. He also ran track all four years at Helena High School.

Cleve went on to play college football for the Grizzlies for three years at the University of Montana. His college years at UM were filled with sports, becoming a resident assistant and a tutor in math. Cleve majored in pre-physical therapy, exercise science and a minor in psychology. He also was the cadaver lab attendant for two years, helping teach anatomy to other students. Cleve was a gifted student and talented athlete throughout his life.

After leaving UM, he pursued a career as an assistant golf pro and caddy, earning his PGA with ease. He worked at different golf courses throughout Oregon, Arizona and California. His favorite was Bandon Dunes in Oregon. He was an excellent teacher of golf technique.

Montana was always calling him home, whereby he returned to the Flathead area in his 30s and never left again. He was somewhat of a “gypsy” but maintained a home either in Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Eureka or Kalispell. He loved the mountains but especially the blue ribbon fly fishing streams.

Last year, he floated his raft along with his faithful companions Deuce and Sydney (his labs), 350 miles of Montana rivers. His favorite was the “Mighty Mo” Missouri which he enjoyed fishing as a young boy that turned into a life-long adventure each summer.

Cleve performed CPR on a heart attack victim in Missoula while attending college to save his life before paramedics arrived. On a vacation to Maui, he saved a young mother and baby trapped in a car while rising waters threatened them during a flash flood. He earned his wings many times. He was also gentle and kind to animals and saved many furry friends along his life journey. He loved animals more than humans and that was perfectly OK.

He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his great grandmother Betty, favorite uncle Jon Malmstrom and his beloved chocolate lab Mocha (mother to 10 puppies that he raised by himself), Abner the toughest black lab that ever lived with three legs, and Charlotte his yellow lab.

Cleve is survived by his mother Marcia Wall, his stepfather Mike Wall, of Canyon Creek, and father Donald N. Malmstrom Jr., of Salem, Ore. He leaves behind his sister Monique Malmstrom Bertram and his three nephews, Cole, Kaden and Trey Bertram, of Beaverton, Ore., and stepbrother Kevin Wall, of Marysville.

The family would like to thank all those that assisted in recovering Cleve, his raft and black lab Syd (Deuce still missing) from the Missouri River, especially Deputy Cascade Coroner Bob (Wojo) and Randy Wilke and staff at Anderson Stevenson Wilke for their kind assistance.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests memorials sent to Angel Fund, P.O. Box 7436, Helena MT 59604.

Cleve’s ashes will be spread on the “Mighty Mo” near Pelican Point at a later date.