Davenport Times - Tribune - August 19, 1943

McCLURE FUNERAL WIDELY ATTENDED

Large Crowd offers Homage in tribute to Pioneer Woman Loved by Many. The funeral services for Mrs. Bertha McClure, who with her husband was more closely identified with the history and growth of the northwest than few others, were solemized Sunday afternoon here, with the Presbyterian Church crowded to capacity. The huge throng, paying their last respects to a lady they all knew and loved, came not only from the Inland empire but also from distant states, with many of the old friends dating back to territorial days.
The local chapter of the Eastern Star, of which Mrs. McClure was a member, attended in a body with about 50 of them present. Past Matrons of the Eastern Star gave the funeral service at the interment in Mondovi cemetery. Rev. Lee Knoll officiated and the funeral arrangements were in charge of the Bumgarner Funeral Home.
Music for the services was furnished by Mrs. Carl Horn and Miss Dolores Horn, who sang a duet number and Mrs. W. J. Colville of Reardan, who rendered a vocal solo. The accompanist was Miss Mabel Inkster at the organ. The casket bearers were Henry Altmeyer, Harry Smith, Adolph Johnson, Joe Wynecoop, Fred Dietrich and Wilbur Dietrich.
Bertha Brink was born March 14, 1870, in Vernon county, Mo. Her father, Thomas G. Brink, was born in Illinois and was a teamster in the Army during the Civil war. Her mother was Mary Bolon, a native of Ohio, whose brother was once Indian agent on the Yakima reservation and was murdered by his charges in 1856.
Mrs. McClure's parents migrated to Illinois when she was a child, and soon thereafter started across the plains in a wagon, arriving in the Big Bend country during the year of 1881. They settled in Tamarrack canyon near Mondovi, where they were early pioneers. She attended the first school in Lincoln county in District No. 1 on Bald Ridge.
The marriage of Bertha Brink and Evan J. McClure took place on Christmas day in 1886. Since that time they had spent 56 years on their present farm, which was the homestead he had filed on in 1880. Five children were born to them, one of the sons, Harry, passing away in 1918.
A crowd estimated at 400 persons attended the Golden Wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. McClure at the Grange hall at Mondovi on Christmas night in 1936.
They were remarried that night by Justice George E. Hering and it was a real anniversary for them with all of their relatives including their grandchildren present.
Mrs. McClure was a member of the O.E.S. and Pioneer Association. She is survived by her husband, Evan J. McClure, four children, Robert A., James H. of Mondovi, and Rose McClure and Mary Reagan, also four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Many relatives attended including her daughter, Mrs. Mary Reagan and Rose McClure, of Cut Bank, a sister, Laura B. Davies of Dayton, two granddaughters, Betty Jacobsen of Cut Bank and Mary Wetzler of the coast, nieces Bertha Palmer and her daughter, Helen Ehlenfeldt of Portland and Mrs. Grace Owen of Spokane, nephews, William Loveridge and Duane Brink of Spokane, and Lt. Earl Heath of Pennsylvania, a nephew of Mr. McClure who is stationed at Ephrate.
There were also many old time friends dating back to territorial days and her school days as well as younger friends who came from far and wide to pay her their last tribute.