Clara Bell Ames, age 89, of Park City MT, formerly of Colstrip MT.

Clara Bell Batinovich, Ames (George), Shinkle (Robert), Boller (Dick)

Clara was born February 22, 1935 in Gillette Wyoming to Mitchell and Josephine Batinovich.  Clara was the third child after her brother George, sister Irene, and was followed by her brother John, sister Mary Ann, and sister Nellie.

Clara grew up on her parent’s homestead ranch in rural Northeastern Wyoming.  Clara often reminisced about a simpler but harder time that included no indoor plumbing or electricity, but also included lots of love and laughter in her family.  She attended a rural one room school house until she was in high school at which time she boarded with a widow lady in Gillette Wyoming.  She attended high school at Campbell County High School and graduated May 22, 1953.  Although raised Catholic, it was during this time that Clara really developed a love for Catholicism.  Clara found a beauty, joy and strength in her faith that served her in every aspect of her life.

It was also during this time that Clara met Dick Boller.  They were married May 8, 1953.  Dick was in the military, so the early years of their marriage had the young couple moving to the Midwest where Dick was stationed.  Clara often remembered these years as fun filled and an adventure.  Dick and Clara lived a short time on the Boller Family Ranch South of Gillette but then moved to Jackson Wyoming where Dick had an International Harvester Business.  Clara gave birth to her oldest child, John J. Boller on October 19, 1956 and her oldest Daughter Linda Marie Boller October 16, 1959.  Unfortunately life changed and Dick and Clara divorced March 12, 1968.  It was a tough time for Clara, but as at other times in her life, she handled the challenges with grace, strength and faith in God.

Later that year Clara was introduced to the man that she would later call her soul mate, Robert, “Bob” Shinkle.  Bob and Clara were married October 18, 1968.  This marriage merged two families together as Bob had two children of his own from a previous marriage, Marshall “Glenn” Shinkle, and Debra Rae Shinkle.  Bob and Clara moved their newly formed family to Libby Montana so that Bob could get on a union job building the Libby Damn.  Clara said they like to froze to death that first winter, but they got by.  They didn’t have a lot of money, so they spent their time together exploring Northwestern Montana and Canada, taking the kids fishing, camping, and picnicking.  While living in Libby, Bob and Clara welcomed a daughter to their family.  Michelle Lea Shinkle was born May 13, 1971.  When work on the Libby damn road moved north, Bob and Clara moved to Eureka Montana.  They purchased a trailer and were able to park it at the local KOA, where Clara worked cleaning.  When work on the Libby dam came to an end the family moved to Billings Montana while Bob worked on road construction jobs.  Finally Bob was able to get on at the mine in Colstrip Montana and the family moved there in 1975.

Colstrip became Clara’s home for 45 years.  Clara loved the Colstrip community.  She made many good friends and became very involved in St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.  She worked for Ray Loveridge for several years, cleaning at Montana Power, and doing various jobs for him around town.  Clara and Bob grew an amazing garden and Clara loved to can all the wonderful things they grew.  The two of them spent every spare moment they could find fishing and camping. Sadly that all came to an end when Bob died on one of their camping adventures July 8, 1982.  Clara again pulled together her grace, strength and faith and moved forward parenting and raising their daughter Michelle.     In order to support the two of them Clara got a job working at the Colstrip Public Schools cooking in the kitchen where she remained until she retired  some twenty plus years later.

Life wasn’t done challenging Clara.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and she had a reoccurrence and a mastectomy in 1998.  She fought hard and and beat her breast cancer.  Despite being retired Clara was always busy.  She was on the church parish counsel, a lector and Eucharistic minister, part of the Red Hat Club, exercised at CPRD, took tickets at school events, and was an active member at the Senior Center.  It was at the senior center that Clara met George Ames.  George was a charming fella and he quickly took a shine to Clara.  They were married on July 12, 2004.  Clara and George kicked off their marriage with a month long trip to Northeastern United States to visit all of Georges friends and family.  Clara and George were great companions.  George loved to spoil Clara with flowers, and jewelry, and Clara loved to care for George who was blind.   Clara fondly gathered a few more “kids” during this time with the addition of Georges children Patti Stewert, and Mike Ames to those she claimed as her own.  Along with Mike she also claimed his good friend Jim Hardesty as her kid.   George passed away in January of 2011 and Clara was left to be a widow again.

Clara spent her final years in Colstrip as busy as ever fully immersed in the community, with her friends, and her church.  In March of 2022 at the age of 86 Clara decided she needed to be closer to family and left her beloved home in Colstrip.  She moved to Park City, Montana to live at her daughter Michelle’s home in a four season RV.  Clara stayed there until she became suddenly ill just before Thanksgiving  when her old nemesis cancer returned.  This time it progressed quickly and she passed away a short month later on December 30, 2024 at Morningstar Senior Living.  She passed after a month of illness in which she got to see most of her Grandchildren, all her children, and many dear friends.  The month was spent with love and laughter and no matter how ill she felt she always had a sweet and appreciative smile for not only her family but also everyone who cared for her.  Clara was a most beloved Grandmother, friend, and mother.  She was loved by everyone she met. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, all of her siblings, and all three of her husbands.  She is survived by her son John (Ronda) Boller, and daughters, Linda Schwabauer (Ron), Michelle (Jeff) Perlick. Bonus children, Glenn, Deb (Jim), Patti, Mike, and Jim (Chrissy). Clara had 5 grandsons, Robert, Matt, Mike, Levi, and Jacob, and 5 granddaughters, Melissa, Mandy, Abby, Jenna, and Shelby.

Clara was a sweet, strong, faithful and loving person.  She was beloved by many and a wonderful example to all her family.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to

American Cancer Society

ATTN: Relay For Life of Yellowstone
PO Box 20893
Billings, MT 59104

Service Schedule

Rosary Service

9:30 AM

Saturday January 11, 2025

St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church

Colstrip, MT

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Mass of Christian Burial

11:00 am

Saturday January 11, 2025

St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church

Colstrip, Montana 59323

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