Clare Batchelor

On July 19th, 1920 Letitia (Macrery) Strain gave birth to Clare Eunice Strain on her homestead about 12 miles South of Ekalaka, Montana. The homestead community of Plains Dale is prairie farmland today.

On April 1st, 2017 Clare passed away at the Providence Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The 96 years in between these events were well lived and shared. She was always willing to help others even while handling her own challenges that life deals all of us.

Clare's parents, Letitia Elizabeth Macrery Strain and Ernest Floyd Strain, decided to relocate to California in 1923. They packed up their Model T Ford and took a route through Montana, Idaho, and Portland to visit friends and relatives. Some long days they only traveled about 60 miles through muddy roads. Floyd didn't stay very long in California, declaring the weather was too hot. They returned to Clarks Fork, Idaho by 1924 and to Spokane in 1925.

Clare grew up in Spokane where her parents traded frozen bank accounts (this was the depression era) for a house on Napa street that became the family anchor location until 1987 when her mother died. Clare attended Willard and Bancroft Elementary schools, Garfield Jr. High, and North Central High School.

Clare met all three husbands' in Spokane. In 1938 Clare married Jack Strain and had two sons; Gerald Lee Strain and Jon Floyd Strain. In Sept., 1947 Clare Married James Elmer Hulse, who was stationed at Geiger Air Field in the Army Air Corp. They had one son, Stephen Scott Hulse. Clare traveled the country and Europe as Jim was transferred to different Army posts about every 2 years. Jim died in 1971 after serving in the Pacific during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. From 1974 to 1977 Clare was married to Craig Batchelor who was a musician.

Clare moved to Alaska in 1989, joining her son Scott, and family, in Anchorage. She lived independently in her own apartment for the rest of her life. In Alaska she continued volunteering, at Providence Hospital and a number of civic organizations. She square and round danced until she was in her late 80s and participated in a local antique car club (the Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska).

Clare liked to travel. The family lived in California, Washington, Texas, Colorado, Maryland and in Germany for three years. She enjoyed trips to Mexico, Hawaii, and took several cruises.

Clare is survived by her sons Jon Floyd Strain and Stephen Scott Hulse, along with six grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson, Jerico Ryker Joseph Strain.

A memorial service will be held in Spokane, Washington on Friday, April 21 at the Unity Spiritual Center, located at 2900 South Bernard St. A small family internment will follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens, South 5909 Cheney-Spokane Rd, Spokane, WA.

Clare left this earth early Saturday morning, April 1st, 2017. In her papers she left this quote (unknown), "If by chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do... , I will be remembered forever."

Arrangements were made by the Cremation Society of Alaska. Please visit Clare's Obituary, photos and online guestbook at http://www.alaskacremation.com.