Joan Leslie Clark of Renton, Washington,79 years old, passed away on Saturday January 23 at her Adult Family Living Home, Bethany following a brief illness.  She loved Bethany and the caregivers were very fond of her. She received exceptional care there.

My sister Joan was born in Williston, ND to Lucille Limpus Clark and McLean A. Clark on the Fourth of July 1941. That was always a very special date for Joan – she revelled in being a “firecracker” on her birthday. Joan relocated to Big Timber with her family at an early age.  She attended Big Timber Elementary School and then SGHS for two years.  At that time, Dr. John Haas of Minneapolis (son of Clive and Elsa) sent Joan’s parents an article about a new program in Minneapolis that they thought might be suitable for Joan.  The program involved working with a client, starting in a group home, to teach them independent living skills which would result in the client being able to move into an apartment and live independently. Our family thought that was suitable and Joan was agreeable. She started in the program with the goal of living independently.

Joan lived independently in her apartment in Minneapolis for more than 20 years.  Joan loved cats and always had one in her apartment.  We especially remember Cali 1 and Cali 2. She worked in the sheltered workshop for 20 years and receiving her 20-year pin was the highlight of her life. Joan knew the bus system in Minneapolis very well and used it.  She bussed to work at her workshop.  A special activity was to take the bus to attend home games of the Minneapolis Twins.

After her 20- year anniversary on September 11, 2011, I moved Joan to Seattle to live first with me and then in The Lodge at Eagle Ridge, an assisted living facility, where she lived for 6 ½ years.  In 2017, Joan moved to Bethany where she resided until her death.

Joan was loved by her caregivers at Bethany as well as her many cousins.  The pandemic certainly interfered with our being able to visit her.  She will be missed.

Joan was preceded in death by our parents McLean and Lucille.  She is survived by me, her sister Linda and many loving cousins.  Cremation has taken place and there will be a graveside service sometime in the future at Mountain View Cemetery in Big Timber, Montana.

Memorials in Joan’s name can be made to the charity of your choice.