Clark Ostrom Ivring – Colonel, United States Army

Clark Ostrom Irving, 82, a decorated Army officer, outfitter and priest, died at his home in Absarokee on Sunday, December 18, 2005.

Born in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 1923, he was the son of John Hamilton Irving of the U.S. Army Horse Calvary and Anne (Ostrom) Irving.

He attended Texas A&M University, the University of Maryland, Eastern Montana College and the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest.

In December 1942, he joined the Army. In 1948 he became active in the Regular Army.

He attended the Command and General Staff College, U.S. Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.

He served in the United States, Japan, Germany, the Philippines and New Guinea, retiring as a colonel in 1968.

He received the Silver Star for the Battle of Manila, the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster for Korea, the Distinguished Service Star from the Philippine government, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (two awards), Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters and the Army Commendation Medal.

On March 16, 1946, he married Aylett Griffin in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Upon his return to civilian life, he operated a big game outfitter business on the Crazy Woman Ranch and in the Bighorn Mountains south of Buffalo, Wyo. From there he moved to Absarokee, where he operated a Horsemanship and Survival School on the Lazy EL Ranch near Roscoe.

He taught school at Fishtail and became a deacon in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Montana.

From there went to the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Upon his return to Montana, he served as a priest and counselor in Stillwater and surrounding counties.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Richard “Trooper” Irving; and five grandchildren. Four children preceded him in death.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Absarokee Elementary School Gym. His ashes will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery and at his elk camp in the Slough Creek Valley. Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service in Red Lodge is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s of the Stillwater Episcopal Church, Absarokee, Montana 59001.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard