Nellie Jane Gilbertson
Nellie Jane Clark was born in Newcastle, Wyoming, the second of eight children of Edith and Harry Clark. She grew up in the Pack River Valley, near Sandpoint Idaho.
As a bright, engaging and capable young woman, Nellie ventured after high school to Fairbanks, Alaska and a new clerical job. There she met the handsome Saskatchewan pilot and farm boy Jim Gilbertson who became her husband. Nellie described this time in her life as a great adventure, as baby Mark was soon joined by sisters Patti, Rona and Tammy in quick succession. The family moved together from Alaska back to Idaho, then followed Jim’s work to Wenatchee, Wa, where Nellie studied education at college, then on to Alberta, Canada.
Tragedy hit when they lost Tammy to a childhood accident shortly after moving to Alberta. Nellie worked hard to deal with this grief; her super power as an adored mother was her ability to throw herself into life’s challenges with admirable enthusiasm and warmth. Her intelligence, humour and empathy made her a most beloved teacher, sister, aunt, grandmother, friend and neighbor.
She was an entertaining performer of poetry and ballads, delighting her audiences. She capably ran the family farm near Fort Assiniboine when Jim would return over the years to stints of time working back in Alaska. Years later she and Jim took an extended RV tour of the USA, then creating careers in real estate in Arizona and Washington states.
Nellie achieved a life dream in her later years when she was able to build a log house in her childhood community of Pack River, relishing her time sharing some of the homebuilding challenge with dear nephew Buddy. This home became the warm gathering place for friends and family that she aimed for. “The sun is coming down Cariboo Mountain” was her morning mantra. Nellie was able to remain in her home as her health declined in recent years, with devoted care from her loved ones, especially sister Mary and granddaughter Aja.
Nellie was predeceased by daughters Tammy (1964) and Rona (2018), and her husband Jim (2013). She leaves her grandchildren Tammy, Kenny, Lukas, Daniela, Georgia, Aja, great grand daughter Olivia, son Mark, daughter-in-law Anita, daughter Patti and the friends and family lucky to have known and loved her. Nellie’s warm light lives on, especially perhaps in the morning sun coming down her Caribou Mountain.
