Delma Clairmont

Delma M. Clairmont, 73, a resident of the Kootenai Valley for the past 38 years, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at St. John's Lutheran Hospital.

Delma was born at Zap, N.D., on June 10, 1933, to Emanuel Bellon and Esther Bauer Bellon. The family moved to Butte and later to Charlo where Delma was raised and educated.

Following school, she worked as a nurse's aid at Ursiline Hospital in St. Ignatius. She married Keith Clairmont October 15, 1952 at the St. Ignatius Mission.

Delma and Keith lived in the Polson area for 17 years before coming to Libby in 1969. Delma was a devoted wife, mother and grandma to her 17 grandchildren and had, until the time of her death, remained an avid fan of Libby Logger sports - especially those her grandchildren participated in.

Delma enjoyed handcrafts, most especially making "scrubbies" dish scrubbers and outdoor activities particularly picking huckleberries. She was a longtime member of St. Joseph Parish and Altar Society as well as a member of Libby Senior Citizens.

She was preceded in death by her husband Keith in 1999, her brother, Gary Bellon in 2005 and son-in-law Bob LeCount in 2006.

Survivors include her daughters, Brenda DeBerg and husband Kenny of Reno, Nev., Jeanne Robertson of Libby, and Cheryl LeCount of Springfield, Ore.; sons Rod Clairmont and wife Marj of Tacoma, Wash., Mike Clairmont and wife Geri of Bemidji, Minn., and Dan Clairmont and wife Elaine of Polson; a sister, Inez Vincent of Charlo; sisters-in-law Kay Neiss and Rhonda Swaney, both of Polson; 17 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Jozef Perhubka as celebrant; interment rites followed at the City of Libby Cemetery.

Local arrangements are by Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.