Justad, Claire

Our Mother slipped away in the early morning hours at home 
on August 22, 2010. We are thankful that all of her pain and 
prolonged suffering are finally over. Claire was born on 
December 12, 1928 to Nell and Tom Stott in Harrison, Idaho. 
As the baby of the family of six children and much younger 
than her siblings she thrived on all of the love and attention. 
Claire spent her childhood on the family farm. Claire was 
working at the Farragut Naval Base telegraph office on Lake 
Pend Oreille at age eighteen where she met our father Bob 
Justad. He was rather short with her for being late back from 
her lunch break as he was in a big hurry to send a telegram. 
She was a beautiful woman and used to a lot of attention 
from the guys at the base. She fell in love with our Dad 
immediately of course, because he acted like he didn't care 
how pretty she was. Claire and Bob were married on April 1st, 
1947 in Butte, Montana. Our Dad started his insurance 
business and Mom was always by his side. Mom had quite a 
life as our Dad had an adventurous spirit! Mom was talked 
into all sorts of activities like skiing, flying planes in air races 
to shooting a polar bear on the Bering Sea! They traveled to 
many countries and lived life to its fullest! Mom was a real 
sport for going along with Dad's big plans! Claire was one of 
the original charter members of the Ninety Nines Flying Club. 
She loved dressing up in matching outfits with her good friend 
Dorothy Quale and flying in the Powder Puff Derby. Claire lost 
the two most important men in her life. Her son, John, at the 
young age of 23, tragically, in 1990 and the love of her life, 
our Dad, Bob Justad in March of 1992. She was a wonderful 
Mother and Grandmother and we will miss her dearly. Mom 
was preceded in death by her son John; husband Robert; 
grandson Brandon; and granddaughter Genevieve. She is 
survived by her three daughters: Julie Tolman, Jan Englund 
(Dave), and Jodi Justad; and grandsons: Kevin Tolman, Blake 
and Chase Englund, and Braeden Hood. Other survivors 
include her sister-in-law Irene Petersen; nieces Wanda 
Metzger, Paula Justad, and Laurie Mooso; and nephews Todd 
and Larry Justad. We would like to thank Life's Doors Hospice 
and her wonderful caregivers Shanna and Jaime for all of their 
kindness and compassion during this difficult time. There will 
be a viewing from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 
at Summers Funeral Homes, 1205 W. Bannock Street, Boise. 
Graveside inurnment services will be at 2:00 p.m. on 
Thursday, August 26, 2010 at Dry Creek Cemetery, Boise.

Published in Idaho Statesman on August 24, 2010