Clara Hugos Hall left our company to join her Lord and Savior on May 16, 2009, in the early morning.  She was born Klara Nalida Hugos in Columbus Hospital, Great Falls, Montana, on January 24th. She did not like to discuss her age and never divulged the year of her birth unless absolutely necessary.  She was the second of four children born to Henry Oliver Hugos and Nanna Sophia Nelson Hugos, and she was of Norwegian descent.   As a child, she was active in Girl Scouts from its introduction in Great Falls, and she achieved the Golden Eaglet in 1935 or 36.  She played the violin.  After graduation from high school, she attended Helena Business College.  Clara performed secretarial duties before and after WWII both in the government and in the private sector.  During the war, she enlisted in the Women's Coast Guard Auxiliary. She was not called to active duty, and she was honorably discharged in August 1945. She worked for the state legislature.

Clara volunteered her services as a nurse's assistant at the Veterans Hospital in Helena, Montana.  It was there, in the hospital, that she met her husband Earl David Hall who was a patient. They were married shortly thereafter and honeymooned throughout the South West and Mexico. They later moved to Billings and had one son, David Ray Hall, in March 1955. While raising David, Clara worked part-time in the Yellowstone County government offices.   She was active in the P.T.A. and devoted her time and energy to raising her son.  She continued to work with her husband Earl who built some of the finest brick homes in Billings.  In the early 1970s, Clara began working full-time for Masonic Lodge 113 and the Scottish Rite.  She worked in the Masonic office until early 1991 when her husband Earl passed away.  She then went to work for Montgomery Wards until she decided to retire.  She lived at 3120 Monad Road in Billings until in 2006 when she went to reside at Evergreen Laurel.  She was loved by the staff and was active in their community until just before her death.  Clara enjoyed a very full and long life and was a God fearing woman.

Clara loved to knit, sew, bake, and garden.  Clara hosted coffee meetings in her home surrounded by her Norwegian collectibles and her cat figurines.  She was a friend to all God's creatures and often rescued injured dogs and cats, giving them a home until they were well and able to go to a new home.  She was passionate about her many dogs and cats.   Clara was a member of Bath Zabbia Temple No. 21 of The Daughters of the Nile.  She initially attended First Methodist Church and later attended Grace Methodist Church.  Clara was a good friend to many in the community.

Clara is survived by her son David, his wife Susan, three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, her sister Ruth Ryffel, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband Earl and her two brothers Ray and Henry Hugos.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Yellowstone County Humane Society in Clara’s name.

Services will be graveside in the new Veterans' section in Mountview Cemetery at 10:00 AM Tuesday, May 19, 2009, where she will be buried with her husband with full military honors.