Clyde Gorder

Our hearts were broken when Jesus called one of His best to come home. After years of battling Hepatitis C, Cancer and Diabetes, Clyde Allen Gorder passed away in the loving arms of his family on Friday, April 3, 2009 at the Glendive Medical Center. A Vigil Service will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive. A Memorial mass will be held on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Glendive. Rite of Committal with military honors will be in the Dawson County Cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with arrangements. Clyde was born on November 17, 1949 in Deadwood, South Dakota the first child of David E. and Vera J. (Enderle) Gorder. Clyde received his early education in Glendive, Sundance, Wyoming and Baker, Montana. Clyde attended high school in Sidney, Montana and Glendive, graduating from Dawson County High School with the class of 1969. During his high school years, Clyde worked as a mechanic and truck driver for Paraffin Service in Glendive and also Don's Exxon. Clyde joined the United States Army in March 1970 and proudly served his country in Germany during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharged in January 1973. After his discharge, Clyde went to work at Eissinger Equipment in Circle, Montana as an implement mechanic. He then moved to Glendive to work at Glendive Carburetor and Electric for three years and also attended night classes at Dawson Community College, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in 1978. Clyde began his career as a mechanic for the State of Montana Department of Transportation in 1977. Clyde served in the Army National Guard as a tank commander until March 1985. After 28 years with the State, Clyde retired as Working Shop Foreman in October 2005. In October of 1972, Clyde met the love of his life, Paula Jimison and they were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive on October 5, 1974. Clyde and Paula were blessed with two amazing children, Tyler Allen and Amy Michelle. Clyde took his responsibilities as a husband and parent very seriously, vowing to plant roots and not move his family. Clyde was a very active parent, serving as a den leader for cub scouts, coaching Tyler and Amy in youth soccer, coaching Tyler in baseball and football and cheering Tyler along in AAU, junior high and high school wrestling. Clyde attended numerous band and choir concerts for Amy and taught his children the fine art of fishing, driving, car care and a deep appreciation for family and faith. Clyde worked hard to get the first Montana chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America started in Glendive in 1985. He was also one of the "founding fathers" of the Badlands Drifters Car Club and was an active member until his health deteriorated. Clyde was a member of AFSCME Local 852, ABATE of Montana and served on the Board of Directors of the Public Employees Federal Credit Union. Clyde always appreciated a nice car and enjoyed restoring his Camaro, Nova and pickups. Times spent with family were always welcomed, such as helping to make chili for Christmas Eve, hosting a 4th of July barbecue, or tending the fire at the Labor Day camp out. He was especially pleased when through the kindness of Annie, Derek, Karen and Wilbur he and Paula were able to travel to Pittsburgh to watch his Steelers play for the first time this past December. Clyde taught by example to be an honest, courageous, hard working, independent and trustworthy individual, not only to his own children but also nieces and nephews. Through years of ups and downs with his health he never complained and never gave up. Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, David and Vera Gorder, mother- in-law Ethel Jimison, father-in-law Ray Jimison and brother-in-law Allen Jimison. Surviving Clyde is his wife Paula of Glendive; son Tyler of Billings, Montana; daughter Amy (Rodney) Hodous of Glendive; his beloved grandsons Gaige and Michael Hodous of Glendive; sister Diane (Larry) Hoover of Fairview, Montana; brothers Don (Berta) Gorder of Nashua and Tom (Gretchen) Gorder of Miles City, Montana. Clyde was also loved and will be deeply missed by his extended family Jerry and LaDonna Jimison, Randy and Linda Baldwin, Wilbur and Karen Wallace, Ralph and Micki Jimison, Kip and Mary Braden; God children Tiffany Coon and Dane Jacobsen and several nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com Clyde Allen Gorder Vigil Service Sunday, April 12, 2009 Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home Glendive, Montana Celebrant: Welcome Good Evening. I am Sandy Silha, a certified celebrant with the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home. We are here tonight to remember and to celebrate the life of Clyde Gorder. It is our hope that every part of this service will honor a life lived among us. Paula, Tyler, Amy and Rodney, Gaige and Michael, and all of Clyde’s extended family, everyone here wants you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers because of your loss. As your friends and community, we grieve with you and we grieve for you, and we want to be available to you in any way possible as you face the long journey of grief. And to the many friends here for this important time, may I express the family’s gratitude for your presence. The journey of grief is long and those who walk it should not have to walk it alone. In times like these nothing takes the place of friends. Your presence helps the family realize how valuable their loved one was to others and reveals the significance of his life. The family has prepared a video tribute to share with you this evening. The music that accompanies the photos were favorites of Clyde’s and part of his vast collection of albums. “InDaGaddaDaVida” is somewhat of a signature song for Clyde as he listened to it many, many times over the years. Later, we will take time for those of you who have a memory, experience or thoughts about Clyde that you may wish to share. Please come to the microphone to speak, as this service is being recorded and also so that all may hear your words. We will begin on a spiritual note, because Clyde had a deep faith and his faith was very important to him. When Clyde choose the Bible reading you will hear from Corinthian’s, he was worried because it is not a traditional funeral reading. But it is the right one for Clyde; because of family and friends he truly believed in the meaning of these words. Dick Sadorf, a close family friend and co-worker of Clyde’s, will lead us in a decade of the rosary, he will read the words from Corinthinan’s that were so close to Clyde’s heart, followed by a reading from the gospel according to John. Spiritual: Dick Sadorf Rosary & Reading, Corinthian’s, Gospel Video Tribute Celebrant: Clyde touched many lives during his life. For Clyde, family was his friends and friends were his family. Clyde was always there when you needed him. He brought with him strength and consideration, humor and sometimes, mischief, a do it right and a can do attitude; Clyde cared and he wasn’t afraid to show it. The stories and memories Clyde created and experienced during his lifetime are many. The following are just a few his family would like to share with you. Clyde’s dating Paula did not always go smoothly. Clyde was six years older than sixteen year old Paula and Paula’s father, Ray Jimson, did not approve of them dating. But Clyde had that Norwegian stubbornness about doing what he wanted, so every Saturday he would drive to Glendive from Circle to take Paula out. But before Paula could go with Clyde, she had to have the whole house spotlessly clean. This roadblock didn’t stop Clyde. Every Saturday became his time to help Paula finish the cleaning so they could go have fun. Clyde’s task was to scrub the kitchen floor, which he faithfully did. He knew what he wanted and he got it. Paula claims after they were married, Clyde never scrubbed another floor. Did Clyde show you his mouse? Did he charge you a dollar or make you buy breakfast to see it? Or did you see it when he won the tattoo contest at the first bike show? You know, he waited until the other contestants had all flaunted their tattoos, before he brought out the big guns. He won the contest hands down, or should we say pants down?! Clyde wasn’t above a bit of humor at someone else’s expense. Clyde’s sister, Diane Hoover, recalls an instance of Clyde’s humor displayed during high school. Clyde’s abilities as a mechanic were already well known. As they were riding the bus into Glendive to high school, another student began telling Clyde about the pick-up he had just acquired. It wasn’t running very well and he needed some advice on what he should do about it. The kid was one of the top students in school at the time, but really did not have any know how about vehicles. Clyde listened carefully to the fellow describe his problems with the pick-up. Clyde thought a bit and then asked if the kid had checked the “muffler bearings”? No, the kid hadn’t done that. The next morning on the bus, the kid told Clyde that he was unable to locate the muffler bearings. Clyde indicated that they could be found towards the rear of the pick-up. Okay. Next day, the kid again approached Clyde. He just wasn’t able to find those bearings, could Clyde be more specific? So Clyde was more specific. A few days passed and nothing more was said. Finally Clyde asked the kid if he had gotten his pick-up running. The kid shook his head, no, he had never found those muffler bearings. Finally, Clyde explained that was because there were no muffler bearings. The kid didn’t say anything, and just went and sat down a few seats behind Clyde. A few minutes later, Clyde heard the kid burst out laughing, and he told Clyde, yup, Clyde had really gotten him! Over the years, Clyde gave a few driving lessons. His sister Diane tells of a backseat full of neighbor kids, when Clyde gave her a first lesson. Clyde told her to hold the brake while he put the car in gear. Then, Clyde said to look behind her so she could see where she was going and step on the gas. Diane looked back as she let off the brake and pushed on the gas pedal just as Clyde had instructed. All she remembers seeing are the chests of all the neighbor kids, as she backed into the clothesline. Clyde disgustedly ordered her out of the car. Daughter Amy recalls the T-shifter and her dad saying to put it in gear and give it gas. Amy did just that, putting the gas pedal to the floor. The car fishtailed down the driveway throwing dirt and gravel with Amy clinging to the steering wheel and Clyde bracing himself against the dashboard. Finally Clyde got Amy slowed to a stop. That was Amy’s first and last driving lesson from Clyde. When it came to his children, Clyde was a bit of a softie. In fact, Paula says she was often frustrated by his inability to say no to them. Tyler does have one vivid memory of his father disciplining him. A young Tyler and his cousin, Dane Jacobsen, were out in the neighborhood one day, looking for something to do. There was a car that was parked and never moved, and Tyler and Dane started breaking out the windows of the vehicle. A neighbor lady saw them, yelled that she was going to report them, and she did. Ooh, Clyde was not happy with his son. Clyde had a new belt with the letters of his name on it and he chose to apply that belt to Tyler’s backside. The next day Tyler went to school and told everyone that his dad had put the name Clyde on his butt. Tyler also had to pay for the windows to be replaced. When a short time later the windows were again broken out and Tyler heard about it, he claims his rear tightened immediately and he made sure to inform his father that it wasn’t him that had done the deed that time. Clyde was always up for a bit of fun. When his brother-in-law, Allen Jimison, organized the infamous family Labor Day camp outs, Clyde was a willing participant. Clyde became a judge of the annual “Trailer Trash Queen” contest. Dressed as the “Trailer Court Gossip”, Clyde put his manhood on the line doing his job as judge. He wore a long, curly blonde wig to accent his silver beard and mustache, funky glasses, a pink dress complete with pink purse, his mother’s bra, and high heels, which were tough to find in a size that fit. And as a judge, he could be bribed. Yes, Clyde could set quite an example. Clyde actually did set a fine example. He knew the value of family and friends and put them first and foremost. He took pride in his work ethic and a job well done and done right. He had a deep faith with grew with every adversity, including his alcohol treatment, and his health issues. Clyde never made excuses, never complained, and if you told him he couldn’t do it, he would show you he could. And he had a quick wit and sense of humor that reminded everyone around him that life was to be enjoyed, and he did enjoy life. He loved greatly and in turn, was greatly loved. And most certainly he will be greatly missed. At this time, the microphone will be open for any who wish to share. Celebrant: Thank you all for sharing. Everyone is reminded that Clyde’s Mass of Christian Burial with Rite of Committal will begin tomorrow at 2pm at Sacred Heart Church. As we conclude tonight’s service, the family invites you to join them for light refreshments next door at the Silvernale-Silha Tribute Center. Clyde Allen Gorder Eulogy Sacred Heart Church, Glendive, Montana April 13, 2009 Good afternoon and welcome to this important time. I am Sandy Silha, a certified celebrant with the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home. Clyde Allen Gorder. The Silver Fox. So many stories and so much to be said about this man. Clyde’s touch on the lives of those around him has been meaningful and memorable, and he has become a part of many hearts. Clyde’s love and commitment to family set an example for all to follow; his courage and determination to overcome the obstacles in his life command respect and admiration; his unending support and consideration for family and friends who faced their own obstacles, inspired appreciation and love, and Clyde’s wit, humor and Norwegian stubbornness brought smiles, and laughter to many. Clyde was the eldest of four children, a sister and two brothers. Clyde’s father worked in the oil fields and was gone at work a great deal. Clyde’s mother came to depend on her oldest son to do many of the chores that the man of the house normally did. As a big brother, Clyde’s siblings could depend on him too. Yes, they could depend on Clyde to torment them, and they could depend on Clyde stand up for them or protect them if necessary. The tormenting continued after Clyde left home with he and his brother Don exchanging birthday phone calls at odd hours of the day or night or on odd days just to try to surprise each other. Clyde and his brothers began learning mechanic skills at an early age. As adults, most of their conversations and phone calls were about cars and working on cars. As a senior in high school, Clyde received a draft notice. His response was to enlist in the Army. After basic training, Clyde was sent home to get his affairs in order; he was going to Viet Nam. When he got home, he didn’t want his mother to worry so he did not tell her he was going to Viet Nam. She did not believe his explanation for being home on leave and thought he was AWOL. Finally he told her about Viet Nam, and she was very concerned. She must have prayed hard because when Clyde reported back and was due to leave for Viet Nam, a few soldiers, including Clyde, were held back and put on a bus. They were headed for Germany. Mechanics were desperately needed there, and that is where Clyde was sent to do his tour of duty. Clyde’s time in Germany ended when his father became ill and was facing open heart surgery. Clyde was sent home to take care of his mother and siblings, which he did. He finished his time in the army serving in Glasgow, Montana, at the Air Force base there, as a chauffer for the officers at the base. After his honorable discharge, Clyde again went back to what would be his life work, as a mechanic. It was at this time that he first became aware of Paula Jimison. Although they had both went to high school in Glendive, Clyde was six years older than Paula, and it was Paula sister, Linda, who had graduated with Clyde and married one of Clyde’s friends. And it was through Linda that Clyde and Paula met. Paula was sixteen, and she claims what struck her about Clyde was his beautiful smile and his blue eyes. Paula’s father, Ray, did not approve of Clyde; Clyde was too old for Paula. Clyde’s relationship with Ray was a bit rocky at first, but Clyde knew who and what he wanted and he persisted. When Clyde finally asked for Paula’s hand in marriage, Ray informed Clyde that Paula would graduate and go to college first and by the way, was Clyde Catholic? No, but if that’s what it took, Clyde said he would become Catholic. Clyde was living and working in Circle at the time, and he made arrangements to take instructions one night a week after work. The first night of instructions, the priest showed up with a six pack of beer and told Clyde that it was his turn to bring beer the next week. Clyde decided that becoming a Catholic wasn’t all that bad! Clyde and Paula were married and one of the first things Clyde insisted they do was to buy a home. He had moved around so much, that he firmly believed that being married meant having roots, and he did not intend to move anymore. Clyde and Paula spent their entire married life in Glendive. Three months after they were married, they moved into their own home. Clyde always felt that marriage was a vow that you committed to, and children were a blessing, to which you made a commitment to parent. Clyde approached parenting as he did most things important in life, with determined, hands on love and caring. When blessed with Tyler and Amy, Clyde was an involved and proud father. Tyler learned early that you always, always used the “right tool for the job.” Tyler distinctly remembers pounding with a screwdriver and being handed a hammer. When Tyler was old enough to drive, Clyde bought Tyler a Nova to rebuild. Tyler sometimes resented having to work week-ends to earn money to buy parts for the car when his friends’ fathers just bought theirs for them. But Tyler has come to have a deep appreciation for the values his father taught him, and the lessons and skills Clyde provided by working along with Tyler, and teaching him about cars and about life. These are priceless gifts from a father to his son. More than father and son, Clyde and Tyler were best friends. Clyde was Tyler’s best man at Tyler’s wedding and as Tyler put it “an easy choice”. Have you ever seen a son take more pride in being like his father than Tyler? As for daughter, Amy, or “Peaches” as Clyde called her, her father’s involved and proud parenting taught her the importance of the relationship between parents and children. He coached her soccor games and attended all her music events. When Amy was old enough to join band, she began playing the trumpet. At Amy’s first band concert, Paula recalls Clyde whispering to her during the first song, “Are they all playing the same song?” But he applauded wildly, and continued to do so throughout Amy’s musical career, and in all her endeavors. When Amy brought Rodney Hodous home to meet her parents, Clyde certainly remembered Rodney’s grandfather, Sheriff Hodous. And Rodney lost a few points with Clyde because Rodney is a Ford man. But actually, Rodney and Clyde got along very well, especially after Amy and Rodney presented Clyde with two wonderful grandsons, Gaige and Michael. Clyde has been a real presence in the lives of his grandsons. Clyde’s routine was to pick Gaige up after school and take him home. Gaige would get out a banana for Clyde and some snacks for himself, and then Clyde and Gaige would settle in to watch television, “Monster Jam” followed by cooking shows. When Michael was born, Michael was a snuggler, and Clyde would hold him close and not share him with anyone. If you want to catch a glimpse of Clyde today, just watch Michael work his tongue when concentrating. Clyde’s tongue was the busiest part of his body, always working his mustache at the corner of his mouth. And just tell Tyler he can’t do something and watch Clyde’s “yes, I can, just watch me” attitude come out! Clyde loved his family and he showed it. Clyde also loved his extended family. Linda Baldwin especially found Clyde a rock of support for her after a divorce from her first husband. Clyde was also a great father figure for her kids during that time. And Linda credits Clyde and Paula with encouraging her to “date” again, and to give men, at least one man, Randy Baldwin, a chance. Sister-in-law, Karen Wallace and her husband, Wilbur, shared a great interest in cars, racing cars and restoring cars with Clyde. Clyde and Wilbur held the first car show in Glendive in the parking lot of the old Kampschror’s on main street during a week-end their brother-in-law, Jerry Jimison, sponsored a concert featuring some 60’s bands. Clyde was passionate about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Game day was a big deal at the Gorder house. Clyde was thrilled when his niece, Annie, and her husband, Derek, made possible a trip for Clyde and Paula to Pittsburgh to see an actual Steeler game. Their seats were five rows behind the Steeler bench. It was freezing cold but the Steelers pulled the game out at the end. Clyde and Paula had just a great time. Paula said it was the first time they had traveled by plane with Clyde in a seat instead of on a gurney. Paula remarked the trip was just like a honeymoon for them. Clyde was a friend to all. And he had many friends. Clyde knew the value of presence. A friend from his pre-marriage days in Circle, Gene Schwenke, had since moved away. But the friendship continued and included wives and families. When Gene had heart surgery in the 90’s, Clyde and Paula were present at his bedside almost immediately. In 2002, when Gene was involved in a motorcycle accident, again Clyde and Paula came immediately to help and be close, bringing a trailer to haul the bike for Gene. Clyde’s sister, Diane Hoover, commented that when Clyde listened to you he listened with his whole body. There was not anything Clyde would not do for a friend. Brother-in-law Jerry Jimison commented that, “Clyde died as a man with no enemies.” Clyde and vehicles. A mechanic most of his life, he couldn’t leave a vehicle alone. At the very least it needed tweaking, and he loved to rebuild them. Jerry admired Clyde’s dependability as a mechanic both on the job, and for friends and family. Clyde did any and all vehicle maintenance for all the many family members in the area. Whether Clyde was the mechanic for his job or the mechanic for family or friends, Clyde was the “go to” guy. He was an “artist” with vehicles and for Clyde there was only one kind worth having, a Chevy! When Clyde was in his garage, challenged with a favorite Chevy to rebuild or recreate, Clyde was in his glory. He wasn’t afraid to think out of the box; he knew how to build and make things work when no one else could; and he for sure could make a vehicle look very cool and run very hot! If you knew Clyde, you knew his yellow Camero; it was truly a passion with Clyde. Paula claims that when Clyde was told about the car and talked to her about getting it, they had agreed that it would be fun, but that they couldn’t afford it. Clyde only heard the first part, that it would be fun. Imagine Paula’s surprise when she saw Clyde towing the car with his brother Tom trying to steer, as his arms were flinging things out the side windows. The car had been buried in a field, the rear-end stuck in mud, and it was infested with mice. Tom was hurling mice out as they came into the yard. The only ones more happy than Clyde with his new treasure were the neighborhood cats! Oh, but look what he did with that car. Not long ago, Clyde and Tyler took the Camero out for a ride, and Clyde played with it just like a kid, spinning the tires and leaving a bit of rubber on the pavement. His final request for his Camero was that Tyler drive him to the cemetery in it, and Clyde will get his wish today. Clyde had a quiet, but strong faith in God. His faith increased in strength with every adversity that Clyde faced. But as always, his irrepressible wit would shine through. Paula’s cousin, Carla Prevost, commented to Clyde that, “there was certainly a place in heaven for him.” Clyde’s response was that he wasn’t sure he would be happy there; he wanted to go where the rest of them would be! Clyde was anointed with the last rites, twice. Once was at the time of his liver transplant, and afterward he told Paula that he felt a tremendous sense of peace. The second time came shortly before his death. Clyde’s sisters-in-law, Linda and Karen would say that Clyde had nine lives and three wives. He faced death several times before it took him. And besides Paula, one of them always seemed to be near to listen, support, encourage, or just nag him. Paula said that he often wouldn’t listen to her, but always did what the nurses said. Near the end, when Clyde was very weak, the nurses came in to tell Clyde they had to give him medication. As always he was agreeable and they told him to try to turn over so they could administer it. Clyde, with his ever-present sense of humor, reminded them “not to peek.” Through all their married life, but especially these last years, Paula was at Clyde’s side. With Clyde fighting health issues, Paula fought right along beside him. They traveled the hills and valleys of his treatments together. They celebrated the victories together, and held each other up through the tough times. Paula was with Clyde when he died. And he will never leave her heart. According to Clyde, if you were on time, you were late. Clyde died at five minutes to ten. Tyler commented that Clyde “must have had a ten o’clock appointment.” Clyde Allen Gorder. So many stories. So much to be said about this man. He was greatly loved and he will be greatly missed. Let us conclude Clyde’s eulogy with this reminder about Clyde, “To live in hearts that love is not to die.” If you know of anyone who could not be here today, the text of Clyde’s eulogy can be read on the funeral home website at www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com. Thank you all for being here for this important time.

Clyde Gorder

November 17, 1949 - April 13, 2009

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Clyde Gorder

November 17, 1949 - April 13, 2009

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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