Clifford Roy Warnken

Clifford Roy Warnken, 87, died peacefully September 3, 2022 surrounded by his family. Clifford, or Scrooge to many of his family and friends, was born November 7, 1934 in Superior, MT to Theodore and Loretta Warnken, both from Superior.

Clifford was 5th of 10 children. Clifford graduated from Superior High School in 1954 and then spent several years in the United States Army. When he returned from his time in the military Clifford worked with one of his brothers on the Warnken Ranch raising cattle and farming. Clifford married Ruth E. Heimbigner Keck on July 21, 1962.

Clifford not only became a new husband, but he also became an instant dad when he took on the task without any hesitation and raised Ruthie's two children from a previous marriage as his own, along with the two children they would have together over the next few years. If you didn't know you wouldn't know.

As time moved on Clifford put his hands to bridge construction for several years working for N. A. Nelson Construction. He helped build the Libby Dam, the bridge over the Clark Fork River by the Lozeau rest stop area and then followed the construction crew and built bridges in Poplar and Terry, Montana.

In 1969 Clifford moved his family back to Superior where he would own and operate the Conoco gas station. He loved being a mechanic and would spend many hours working on people's cars, trucks, trailers and logging trucks – charging very little and sometimes doing the work free of charge. It was something he found very hard to do – to charge people for his work and time. Clifford would do anything to help someone out as he displayed many times over his lifetime.

A few years later Clifford would become a logger and truck driver owning his own logging company and truck and would continue in this line of work until he retired. The name of his company, which was very appropriate because it was what every logger did, was called Bust Your Ass Logging or otherwise known as BYA. Grandkids loved to go out to "grandpa's or papa's house because there was always something out there to ride on and play with.

Whether it was a go cart, a tricycle, a scooter or a bike – there was something for everyone.

Clifford was preceded in death by his wife Ruthie, his daughter Carlila, four brothers (Gerald, Dwight, Richard and James) and a sister (Frances). Clifford is survived by his three children Elaine Keck Sedeora, John (Carla) Keck and Mark (Denise) Warnken, 11 grandkids, lots of great grandkids and several great great grandkids, a brother, three sisters, brother in-laws, sister in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. And his dog Jake.

A Celebration of Life will be held sometime next spring. If you could look up the word "hard worker" in the dictionary you would see a picture of Clifford, our dad. He has been a hard worker his whole life. Never one to be sitting around the house or watching much tv, he was always outside doing something. Even up to his last year of life you would find him many times outside with a Swisher Sweet in his mouth raking up old leaves, dried grass, snow and of course his favorite things… PINECONES and PINE NEEDLES!

Rest in Peace Dad, you so have earned it!