- Date Of Birth: May 27, 1923
- Date Of Death: December 4, 2017
- State: Idaho
“Pete”
Walter J. Clements
1923 ~ 2017
Our beloved father, Walter J. (Pete) Clements, 94, passed away on December 4, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family. Dad was born May 27, 1923 in Creighton, Nebraska to Marie Eisenbeiss Clements and Asa Clements. He was one of five children.
In 1935, his family, having lost everything in the Dust Bowl, moved to Emmett, Idaho. Dad was industrious from an early age. At 13 he took a full-time job delivering meat on a bicycle. Life did not allow him the luxury of an extended formal education, but driven by a strong work ethic, he went on to become a successful entrepreneur, owning many businesses, farms and ranches. He was the very definition of a self made man.
After moving to McCall, he worked many jobs and was an early employee at Brown Tie and Lumber Company’s sawmill on the shores of Payette Lake where as the story goes, he had an encounter with Sharlie, the fabled sea serpent. In 1953, he and his brother Wally purchased the Shamrock market in Emmett which they ran for 20 years. No matter what businesses he was involved in, Dad always kept his hand in farming and ranching, even running a small herd of cattle into his late 80’s. At age 60 he obtained his insurance license and together with his son Stan, founded All Valley Agency Inc., which is still operated by the Clements family, marketing health and life insurance products in the Northwest. He continued to sell insurance until he was 82, receiving numerous awards for his sales achievements.
In 1941 while living in McCall, he met his sister’s best friend, Lorraine Leaf, a granddaughter of Finnish homesteaders, who turned out to be the love of his life. Mom and dad enjoyed a beautiful marriage which lasted for 69 years until her passing in 2011. They had three children Anita (Dean Draper), Stan (Kathy), and Janet (Peter Angleton). Their lives revolved around their family. Mom and dad were wonderful, loving parents and grandparents. They had 11 grandchildren: Debbie McGowan, Dennis Draper, Kevin Draper, Karen Kirk, Diane Marchant, Todd Clements, Jody Henderson, Monica, Carmen, Sophia and Nick Angleton, 13 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren.
In 1944 duty called. Dad joined the Navy and served on the LST 800 in the Pacific Theatre. He witnessed the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima and took part in the battle of Saipan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lorraine, his brothers Wallace and Laverne, sister Martha, granddaughter Jessica Clements and great grandson Jason McGowan. He is survived by his children and grandchildren, his younger sister Marvella LaCosse and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dad was truly part of the Greatest Generation. He enjoyed life’s successes and met its challenges with a combination of unfailing optimism, keen intelligence, generosity, hard work, modesty and good humor. He had a great laugh and was never at a loss for a good story. He was the finest man we have ever known. We are heartbroken that he left us, but take solace that he is reunited with his beloved wife. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to his grandson Dennis Draper, who by moving in with Dad following Mom’s passing, allowed him to live out his days in the comfort of his own home.
