Bertha 'Elizabeth' Clark Wheeler

B. Elizabeth Clark Wheeler died peacefully at her home in Bozeman, Monday, January 28, 2013. Elizabeth was born February 7, 1926, in Beach, North Dakota, to Jesse and Coralee Chamberland Clark. She grew up in Beach. The Clark and Chamberland families were prominent pioneers in the Terry, Montana, and Sentinel Butte and Beach, North Dakota areas. Elizabeth’s grandfather, Charles Clark, was an early blacksmith. Because of Elizabeth’s father’s involvement in the World War II effort, she graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington. Elizabeth married Norman Charles Wheeler of Wibaux, Montana, in 1945, in Kansas City, Kansas. Norman was a U.S. Army paratrooper on his way to the occupation of Japan. During the war, Elizabeth worked at Fort Lewis, Washington. After Norman’s return, the couple came to Bozeman to make their lifelong home. Both were graduates of Montana State University. Elizabeth was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society. While raising her family, Elizabeth was extremely active in community affairs in Bozeman and with the Republican Party in Montana. Elizabeth was a social worker in Sweetgrass, Stillwater, Carter, Fallon, and Wibaux counties, Montana. She served as Director of Court Services for the 18th Judicial District in Bozeman and was Chief Probation Officer for Gallatin County. Elizabeth was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. She was also a life member of Order of Eastern Star #4 in Bozeman. She belonged to the Past Matrons Club and Sapphira Nile Club. Elizabeth’s husband Norman; her son, Sgt. David Charles Wheeler, U.S. Marine Corps; and six brothers and sisters preceded her in death. Elizabeth is survived by her son Norman Clark Wheeler (Connie Johannsen) of Bozeman; daughter (Carmen) Elizabeth Joseph of Big Water, Utah; grandson Nason Cole Wheeler of Miami, Florida, and granddaughter Whitney Lynn Wheeler of Los Angeles, California, and their mother Tracey Wheeler of Bozeman; granddaughters Elizabeth London-Gage Joseph of Page, Arizona; Dana Connell of Snohomish, Washington; and Shauna Wheeler Whitmore of Billings; sister Pansy Madsen of Scottsdale, Arizona; brother J.D. Clark of Tucson, Arizona; nephews Steve and Scott Wheeler of Bozeman and Robert Gilman of Deer Lodge; niece Rita Franks of Glendive; three great-grandchildren; and numerous other nieces and nephews. A memorial service for Elizabeth will be held Monday, February 4, at the Bozeman United Methodist Church at 2 p.m.