Denzle James Clark was born on July 3rd, 1905, in Jameston, Idaho to John Terrell Clark and Mary Ann Fielding. He was the fifth of eight children of which two brothers, Adron and John, and one sister, Dorothy Mae, died at an early age. He had four sisters: Zella, Elma, Bessie and Vera, and it is commonly said they spoiled their baby brother.
Den had to work hard at an early age as his father had 160 acres he had homesteaded and rented another 160 acres. The community was small, having mainly a school, general store, a church and a cemetery. He spent three years at Shelley High. While still a young boy, his Mother was taken ill with heart trouble. To alleviate her discomfort Den's father would take her to Canada, Lava Hot Springs, or Ogden Canyon in the summer and to Long Beach, California, in the winter. Den would stay with his Mother in Long Beach when his father went back to Idaho to care for things there. Den was independent as a young man and had a paper route while staying in Long Beach. He was proud to tell everyone that he made as much as $8.00 a day selling papers to Wilmington shipyard workers. He also worked at the boat docks for $3.00 for four or five hours work. He enjoyed the boats and loved fishing and spent many free hours on fishing streams during his life, in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
During the flu epidemic of 1918, his Mother died in December and they brought her back by train to Taylor where she is buried. After her death he farmed with his father and went to school. His Dad died in 1927 in a car accident when Den was 22 years old.
Denzle married Ruth Johnson, December 2nd, 1925. They had a son, Terrell, and a daughter, Arlene. Den continued farming after his Dad died and brought in the largest crop of potatoes ever planted in that area on the 240 acres his Dad left, and it was done with horse drawn equipment. The next year, he and his sisters sold the farm and Den continued farming for a while nearer Shelley for about four years then moved to Idaho Falls to work in "Spud Alley" as a grader man in a potato warehouse. Times were rough and there was a depression. Ruth and he were divorced and the children went to live with their mother and Johnson grandparents. Den was always a hard worker and was always able to find a job. Burt Wakerli paid him five cents an hour more than his co-workers because he was worth two other men. He always provided for his family.
Den loved to dance and soon met a beautiful young woman at the Eagles Hall. Phyllis Mendenhall happened to be his foreman's daughter. They dated for three years and finally married in February of 1936 in Blackfoot, Idaho. They bought a 1926 Dodge for $125 and moved to Gardner, Montana to work tearing down an old hotel at Mammoth. Weekends were spent touring Yellowstone Park and fishing. It was a wonderful summer. They moved back to Idaho Falls and he continued working grading spuds. In 1938 he moved to Jackson, Wyoming to help build a bridge across the Snake River between the Hoback River and Jackson Hole. It was a suspension bridge and was made from a washed out bridge from the Gros Ventre slide and flood.
Den and Phyllis purchased a two room home in Idaho Falls on West 18th Street in Idaho Falls. In 1941 Den went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as a car inspector. He retired from this position 29 years later in 1979. He loved his job and the people he worked with. In 1946, they bought their current home at 990 North Blvd., along with five acres. He farmed and raised cows and pigs for the family food and raised a beautiful garden.
Den and Phyllis had a family of five children. He taught them all to work hard as well as how to camp and fish. After retirement he and his wife spent many years camp hosting in national campgrounds. He camp hosted alone the last couple years of his life when his wife's health prevented her accompanying him in summers. He loved the out of doors and camped out until the last summer of his life when his health seemed to give out. He entered the hospital in Jun of 1988 with congestive heart failure and kidney failure. He went home and recovered for another five months. He felt blessed to be at home and have his wife at his side helping him. He liked to sit on the front porch and watch the people go by those last months. He passed away 13 November 1988 in his home with his wife and daughter, Sharon, in attendance. Each of his children were with him in heart and spirit at his passing. They came together to read his life sketch and honor him at his funeral.
Den had to work hard at an early age as his father had 160 acres he had homesteaded and rented another 160 acres. The community was small, having mainly a school, general store, a church and a cemetery. He spent three years at Shelley High. While still a young boy, his Mother was taken ill with heart trouble. To alleviate her discomfort Den's father would take her to Canada, Lava Hot Springs, or Ogden Canyon in the summer and to Long Beach, California, in the winter. Den would stay with his Mother in Long Beach when his father went back to Idaho to care for things there. Den was independent as a young man and had a paper route while staying in Long Beach. He was proud to tell everyone that he made as much as $8.00 a day selling papers to Wilmington shipyard workers. He also worked at the boat docks for $3.00 for four or five hours work. He enjoyed the boats and loved fishing and spent many free hours on fishing streams during his life, in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
During the flu epidemic of 1918, his Mother died in December and they brought her back by train to Taylor where she is buried. After her death he farmed with his father and went to school. His Dad died in 1927 in a car accident when Den was 22 years old.
Denzle married Ruth Johnson, December 2nd, 1925. They had a son, Terrell, and a daughter, Arlene. Den continued farming after his Dad died and brought in the largest crop of potatoes ever planted in that area on the 240 acres his Dad left, and it was done with horse drawn equipment. The next year, he and his sisters sold the farm and Den continued farming for a while nearer Shelley for about four years then moved to Idaho Falls to work in "Spud Alley" as a grader man in a potato warehouse. Times were rough and there was a depression. Ruth and he were divorced and the children went to live with their mother and Johnson grandparents. Den was always a hard worker and was always able to find a job. Burt Wakerli paid him five cents an hour more than his co-workers because he was worth two other men. He always provided for his family.
Den loved to dance and soon met a beautiful young woman at the Eagles Hall. Phyllis Mendenhall happened to be his foreman's daughter. They dated for three years and finally married in February of 1936 in Blackfoot, Idaho. They bought a 1926 Dodge for $125 and moved to Gardner, Montana to work tearing down an old hotel at Mammoth. Weekends were spent touring Yellowstone Park and fishing. It was a wonderful summer. They moved back to Idaho Falls and he continued working grading spuds. In 1938 he moved to Jackson, Wyoming to help build a bridge across the Snake River between the Hoback River and Jackson Hole. It was a suspension bridge and was made from a washed out bridge from the Gros Ventre slide and flood.
Den and Phyllis purchased a two room home in Idaho Falls on West 18th Street in Idaho Falls. In 1941 Den went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as a car inspector. He retired from this position 29 years later in 1979. He loved his job and the people he worked with. In 1946, they bought their current home at 990 North Blvd., along with five acres. He farmed and raised cows and pigs for the family food and raised a beautiful garden.
Den and Phyllis had a family of five children. He taught them all to work hard as well as how to camp and fish. After retirement he and his wife spent many years camp hosting in national campgrounds. He camp hosted alone the last couple years of his life when his wife's health prevented her accompanying him in summers. He loved the out of doors and camped out until the last summer of his life when his health seemed to give out. He entered the hospital in Jun of 1988 with congestive heart failure and kidney failure. He went home and recovered for another five months. He felt blessed to be at home and have his wife at his side helping him. He liked to sit on the front porch and watch the people go by those last months. He passed away 13 November 1988 in his home with his wife and daughter, Sharon, in attendance. Each of his children were with him in heart and spirit at his passing. They came together to read his life sketch and honor him at his funeral.
Denzle James Clark was born on July 3rd, 1905, in Jameston, Idaho to John Terrell Clark and Mary Ann Fielding. He was the fifth of eight children of which two brothers, Adron and John, and one sister, Dorothy Mae, died at an early age. He had four sisters: Zella, Elma, Bessie and Vera, and it is commonly said they spoiled their baby brother.
Den had to work hard at an early age as his father had 160 acres he had homesteaded and rented another 160 acres. The community was small, having mainly a school, general store, a church and a cemetery. He spent three years at Shelley High. While still a young boy, his Mother was taken ill with heart trouble. To alleviate her discomfort Den's father would take her to Canada, Lava Hot Springs, or Ogden Canyon in the summer and to Long Beach, California, in the winter. Den would stay with his Mother in Long Beach when his father went back to Idaho to care for things there. Den was independent as a young man and had a paper route while staying in Long Beach. He was proud to tell everyone that he made as much as $8.00 a day selling papers to Wilmington shipyard workers. He also worked at the boat docks for $3.00 for four or five hours work. He enjoyed the boats and loved fishing and spent many free hours on fishing streams during his life, in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
During the flu epidemic of 1918, his Mother died in December and they brought her back by train to Taylor where she is buried. After her death he farmed with his father and went to school. His Dad died in 1927 in a car accident when Den was 22 years old.
Denzle married Ruth Johnson, December 2nd, 1925. They had a son, Terrell, and a daughter, Arlene. Den continued farming after his Dad died and brought in the largest crop of potatoes ever planted in that area on the 240 acres his Dad left, and it was done with horse drawn equipment. The next year, he and his sisters sold the farm and Den continued farming for a while nearer Shelley for about four years then moved to Idaho Falls to work in "Spud Alley" as a grader man in a potato warehouse. Times were rough and there was a depression. Ruth and he were divorced and the children went to live with their mother and Johnson grandparents. Den was always a hard worker and was always able to find a job. Burt Wakerli paid him five cents an hour more than his co-workers because he was worth two other men. He always provided for his family.
Den loved to dance and soon met a beautiful young woman at the Eagles Hall. Phyllis Mendenhall happened to be his foreman's daughter. They dated for three years and finally married in February of 1936 in Blackfoot, Idaho. They bought a 1926 Dodge for $125 and moved to Gardner, Montana to work tearing down an old hotel at Mammoth. Weekends were spent touring Yellowstone Park and fishing. It was a wonderful summer. They moved back to Idaho Falls and he continued working grading spuds. In 1938 he moved to Jackson, Wyoming to help build a bridge across the Snake River between the Hoback River and Jackson Hole. It was a suspension bridge and was made from a washed out bridge from the Gros Ventre slide and flood.
Den and Phyllis purchased a two room home in Idaho Falls on West 18th Street in Idaho Falls. In 1941 Den went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as a car inspector. He retired from this position 29 years later in 1979. He loved his job and the people he worked with. In 1946, they bought their current home at 990 North Blvd., along with five acres. He farmed and raised cows and pigs for the family food and raised a beautiful garden.
Den and Phyllis had a family of five children. He taught them all to work hard as well as how to camp and fish. After retirement he and his wife spent many years camp hosting in national campgrounds. He camp hosted alone the last couple years of his life when his wife's health prevented her accompanying him in summers. He loved the out of doors and camped out until the last summer of his life when his health seemed to give out. He entered the hospital in Jun of 1988 with congestive heart failure and kidney failure. He went home and recovered for another five months. He felt blessed to be at home and have his wife at his side helping him. He liked to sit on the front porch and watch the people go by those last months. He passed away 13 November 1988 in his home with his wife and daughter, Sharon, in attendance. Each of his children were with him in heart and spirit at his passing. They came together to read his life sketch and honor him at his funeral.
Den had to work hard at an early age as his father had 160 acres he had homesteaded and rented another 160 acres. The community was small, having mainly a school, general store, a church and a cemetery. He spent three years at Shelley High. While still a young boy, his Mother was taken ill with heart trouble. To alleviate her discomfort Den's father would take her to Canada, Lava Hot Springs, or Ogden Canyon in the summer and to Long Beach, California, in the winter. Den would stay with his Mother in Long Beach when his father went back to Idaho to care for things there. Den was independent as a young man and had a paper route while staying in Long Beach. He was proud to tell everyone that he made as much as $8.00 a day selling papers to Wilmington shipyard workers. He also worked at the boat docks for $3.00 for four or five hours work. He enjoyed the boats and loved fishing and spent many free hours on fishing streams during his life, in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
During the flu epidemic of 1918, his Mother died in December and they brought her back by train to Taylor where she is buried. After her death he farmed with his father and went to school. His Dad died in 1927 in a car accident when Den was 22 years old.
Denzle married Ruth Johnson, December 2nd, 1925. They had a son, Terrell, and a daughter, Arlene. Den continued farming after his Dad died and brought in the largest crop of potatoes ever planted in that area on the 240 acres his Dad left, and it was done with horse drawn equipment. The next year, he and his sisters sold the farm and Den continued farming for a while nearer Shelley for about four years then moved to Idaho Falls to work in "Spud Alley" as a grader man in a potato warehouse. Times were rough and there was a depression. Ruth and he were divorced and the children went to live with their mother and Johnson grandparents. Den was always a hard worker and was always able to find a job. Burt Wakerli paid him five cents an hour more than his co-workers because he was worth two other men. He always provided for his family.
Den loved to dance and soon met a beautiful young woman at the Eagles Hall. Phyllis Mendenhall happened to be his foreman's daughter. They dated for three years and finally married in February of 1936 in Blackfoot, Idaho. They bought a 1926 Dodge for $125 and moved to Gardner, Montana to work tearing down an old hotel at Mammoth. Weekends were spent touring Yellowstone Park and fishing. It was a wonderful summer. They moved back to Idaho Falls and he continued working grading spuds. In 1938 he moved to Jackson, Wyoming to help build a bridge across the Snake River between the Hoback River and Jackson Hole. It was a suspension bridge and was made from a washed out bridge from the Gros Ventre slide and flood.
Den and Phyllis purchased a two room home in Idaho Falls on West 18th Street in Idaho Falls. In 1941 Den went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as a car inspector. He retired from this position 29 years later in 1979. He loved his job and the people he worked with. In 1946, they bought their current home at 990 North Blvd., along with five acres. He farmed and raised cows and pigs for the family food and raised a beautiful garden.
Den and Phyllis had a family of five children. He taught them all to work hard as well as how to camp and fish. After retirement he and his wife spent many years camp hosting in national campgrounds. He camp hosted alone the last couple years of his life when his wife's health prevented her accompanying him in summers. He loved the out of doors and camped out until the last summer of his life when his health seemed to give out. He entered the hospital in Jun of 1988 with congestive heart failure and kidney failure. He went home and recovered for another five months. He felt blessed to be at home and have his wife at his side helping him. He liked to sit on the front porch and watch the people go by those last months. He passed away 13 November 1988 in his home with his wife and daughter, Sharon, in attendance. Each of his children were with him in heart and spirit at his passing. They came together to read his life sketch and honor him at his funeral.
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