Barbara Ann Clark
Barbara Ann Clark of Comanche, Texas passed away April 23, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born in Bronx, N. Y. on February 20, 1943, to Richard Lindsay Webber and Joan Rose Smaria Webber. Barbara grew up in Detroit, Mich. and attended Denby Tech Preparatory High School.
Life for Barbara drastically changed after her Mother passed away on her 15th birthday. She married Michael J. Matkovich on June 25, 1959 in a Catholic ceremony in Detroit. Barbara and Michael had five children before ending their marriage in 1966.
Barbara married Michael A. Martin Kobilansky in the autumn of 1967 in a double ring ceremony, on horseback, during halftime at a rodeo in rural Indiana. They added two more children to the family.
In 1974, Mike and Barb purchased 20 acres in the mountains of North Crow, where they built their home. They raised their family riding horses, hunting, camping and fishing.
In 1975, Barb began her career at Kicking Horse Job Corps, where she served over 20 years as a Dorm Counselor. While working and raising her family, she earned her AA degree in Social Work from Salish Kootenai College.
In 1994, she married Randy Clark and began traveling around the world, finding her roots in Sicily, Italy. She lived in Florida and Texas in the winter months, while returning to Montana every summer to camp and fish.
The summer of 2011 she began feeling ill and returned to Texas, where she was hospitalized. Facing her diagnosis with courage, Barbara shared time and reminisces with her sister, Nancy and other family members.
Barbara’s adventures ended in April with her last journey to Great Falls, Mont., where she died, in the gentle care of Peace Hospice, with her husband, Randy, by her side.
Her parents, her first husband, and one grandchild, precede Barbara in death.
Her surviving family include her husband, Randy Clark; beloved sister, Nancy Irwin; her children: Michelle Matkovich of Boise, Idaho; Michael Matkovich of Ronan, Mont.; Steven Matkovich of Kalispell, Mont.; Lisa Milliron of Polson, Mont.; David Matkovich of Weatherford, Texas; Jay Kobilansky of Alaska and Peter Kobilansky of Charlo, Mont. and Mike Kobilansky of Miami, Fla.; twenty grandchildren; four great grandchildren, one half-brother and one half-sister, one niece and three nephews, several Aunts and Uncles, and many cousins, lifetime friends and acquaintances.
Barbara easily made friends. She was spiritual and had loving faith as a lifetime member of the Catholic Church.
Cremation took place in Great Falls at Croxfords’ Funeral Home. Barbara’s ashes will be returned to her Mother’s land in Sicily, Italy. A private Memorial service will take place in Ronan, Mont. this summer.
The family would like to thank the Peace Hospice of Montana and suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society and Hospice.