Clara Farwell

On Saturday night, February 22, 2003, Clara F. (Bazil) Farwell, 85, of Ekalaka, said goodbye to us and slowly danced into the soft melody of the Montana sunset to join her beloved partner, Sherrill Farwell. Heard gently floating in the air over Southeastern Montana at that time were some faint, albeit familiar sounds about “jambalaya, crawfish pie and file gumbo; cause tonight I’m gonna see my machez a[d]mio”. Clara was born on June 24, 1918 to Arthur Henry and Susan Bazil. Her early childhood was spent in the Hay Springs, NE area and she moved to the Ekalaka vicinity following the death of her father in 1932. She subsequently attended school and worked part-time in Ekalaka. On November 20, 1937 Clara married Sherrill Farwell and they immediately settled into their first ranch home, a cozy white rambler on wheels. They worked together on the ranch in the Belltower area until moving in 1945 to Alzada, Montana, where they operated the Valley Inn Bar & Caf?. In 1950, they sold this business and returned to the Farwell ranch for another forty-six years of life on the range. Upon semi-retirement in 1996, Clara and Sherrill moved to Ekalaka, but they still spent considerable time at the ranch. Clara was a devoted wife and mother. She was an excellent cook with an open-door policy both to friends and strangers, regardless of the day or time. Through the years, Clara obtained special enjoyment from her yard & flower gardens, and was always on-the-move between a variety of outdoor and indoor tasks. In addition, Clara often worked side-by-side with Sherrill doing ranching chores. She felt fortunate to have many good friends and neighbors, and enjoyed her cordial visits with them. Clara liked music, dancing, and her piano. However, family was the most cherished part of her existence. Survivors include two sons, Sherry Farwell and his wife, Judy, of Black Hawk, SD, and George Farwell and his wife, Deborah, of Pullman, WA; two grandchildren, Gary Farwell and his wife, Shellie, of Seattle, WA, and Jodey Lingg, and her husband, Jason, of Sammamish, WA; and three great-grand children, Ryan Lingg, Erin Lingg, and Sophie Farwell in memory of John Henry Farwell, Alice Bazil Carlisle, Frances (Toots) Simmons, George Kittelmann and numerous nieces and nephews. They will definitely miss her, but feel fortunate for many warm memories of her love, life, and spirit.


Burial Date: February 27, 2003
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT