1935 – 2018

Clark was born on November 15, 1935 in McPherson Kansas. He was the first born of Daniel J. Borth and Erlene (Friesen) Borth. Clark had 5 sisters and 1 brother and they were raised on the family farm southwest of McPherson. After graduating high school McPherson, he attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas for 2 years. His love of the soil and raising crops lured him back to the farm and the wheat fields he loved so much.

In 1959 he married Susann Brookshire and they have been married for 58 years. They were blessed with three children. David in 1961, Lori in 1963 and Timothy in 1967.They were his ultimate pride and joy all his life.

His farming success was soon evident and he was awarded the honor of Kansas Outstanding Young Farmer and the Kansas Bankers Conservation Award for his farming methods and preservation of the soil and water conservation. He was also well known for production of top quality Certified Seed Wheat. He also developed an excellent herd of Charolais cattle and sold breeding stock throughout the central states. During this time period he also proudly served in the Kansas Air National Guard.

In 1971 the pioneering spirit and the lure of new challenges became too strong to resist and an application for Permanent Residency in Canada was started. Back then it was truly an exercise in perseverance. After well over a year of forms, meetings, trips to the Canadian Consulate in Chicago, approval was given. The Kansas farm was sold and arrival in Canada was September 5th, 1973. In mid September, we were informed our Kansas farm had been leveled by a class 5 tornado. The farm was no longer his but all of the machinery and cattle were still there as well as the hay for winter feed and grain stored in bins at the farm. This necessitated moving the cattle to Canada in November where he had hay to feed them. 100 head left for Canada and 101 arrived with a new calf born in transit.

To supplement the ranch, Clark established White River Contracting and went to work operating heavy equipment and building logging roads for various companies and the B.C. Forestry. He dearly loved developing and building new roads into the wilderness areas. He continued with this until 2000, except for 5 years in the mid 80’s when he was part owner and general manager of the Gang Ranch, southwest of Williams Lake. One of the biggest challenges in his business life and also one of great adventure and satisfaction as he and Susann gave it their all to rebuild this great, historic ranch.

In 2000 he sold the road construction company, after which he did consulting work in the forest industry for several more years. A desire for warmer weather resulted in a move to Kamloops, B.C. in 2000.

Retirement was never really a word in Clark’s vocabulary. He accepted the challenge of rebuilding the Provincial Air Search and Rescue organization in Kamloops. He owned 2 aircraft over the years and enjoyed flying immensely. While still in Vanderhoof, he and wife Susann were among 6 couples who started the Vanderhoof Air Show which became the second largest airshow in BC, second only to Abbottsford Air Show. He enjoyed many happy hours flying with the Western War Birds and was never happier than when he was flying aerobatics in their WW II aircraft.

More blessings came his way through these years as 5 grandaughters and 2 grandsons arrived. Serene, Rachelle, Erin, Taylor, Riley, Brenden and Logan. He loved them all dearly and so enjoyed them, especially when taking them for rides in the rumble seat of his beautiful 1930 Model A Ford Roadster – top down of course. He and Susann were members of the Kamloops Vintage Car Club for 17 years.

Throughout all the years his faith in Jesus Christ was his anchor and life focus and he was a faithful servant to his last breath. He shared his faith and love of Jesus with his children and grandchildren at every opportunity and prayed often that they would know and love their Savior with all their heart. For him that is what would have defined a life well lived.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 27th, 2018 at St. Andrews Lutheran Church at 1:00 PM. 815 Renfrew Ave., North Kamloops.

Condolences may be expressed at www.myalternatives.ca

• Date : 2018-04-20
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.