Stanley “Stan” Clelland, age 89, of Miles City

Stanley Harold Clelland passed away on September 17th, 2025. Stan was born on the evening of March 10th, 1936 to Charles and Grechen Clelland in Cambridge, Idaho. Stan spent his whole childhood in Cambridge, ID with his parents and his younger sister Joann on their ranch.

Growing up Stan spent most of his time herding sheep and cattle for his father, riding a lot of horses and breaking colts, he also tended to his 4H calves. When he was not on the ranch helping his dad out he loved to go hunting and fishing.

Stan loved to play the fiddle, and played since he was 12 years old and was mostly self taught. He picked up playing the fiddle for a couple of reasons, first being his father played and because he wanted to be different from all the other guys who played the guitar. Playing the fiddle is the one thing that stuck with him. He played his fiddle in many different bands and many different places. When in high school, he and his best friend since the first grade Dick Wilkerson, along with a couple other kids started their own band. Together, they played at many public dances.

When Stan joined the Navy at 18, his fiddle went with and he often played during the many days and nights on the ship. He spent 4 years in the Navy stationed out of San Diego, CA first on the USS Wasp Aircraft Carrier ship, which he was on as it departed the United States in September 1954 and steamed to the Far East, visiting Pearl Harbor and Iwo Jima en route to the South China Sea where they relieved another ship and engaged in air operations. Then, the Wasp visited the Philippine Islands in late 1954 before proceeding to Japan early in 1955. Stan remembered his longest stretch at sea was 21 days without seeing land. After returning to the US he was reassigned to the USS Boxer after it was converted to an anti-submarine warfare carrier in early 1956. There he completed another tour of the western Pacific in late 1956 and early 1957. He finished out his time in the Navy on a tug stationed out of the Naval station at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo CA, the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean.

Stan wanted to join the Navy because he didn’t like school, and wanted to see the world. He chose the Navy because he knew being on a ship his bed and the chow hall would never be far away! In the Navy he was an electrician, but after his first 4 years he missed home and decided to head back to Idaho to help his dad out on the ranch.

Shortly after heading back to Idaho, Stan met a lady who would become his 1st wife. Together they had 3 sons: Steve, Scott & Stanford. Unfortunately, that relationship ended and Stan started work as a truck driver. It was that job that landed him in Miles City, MT where he met the love of his life, Sharon Marie Campbell while she was a waitress at the Interstate Cafe. Sharon had 4 children from a previous marriage, David, Randy, Shelly & Sherry, who would become Stan’s step children. He stepped in and became a father figure to the 4 kids while also standing by his wife Sharon as she battled cancer twice in the early years. This is the reason Stan and Sharon never had children together. Over the years Stan worked many jobs around Miles City as a butcher at the packing plant and working for the county. But one of the jobs he enjoyed most was his job as an elk hunting guide in the Beartooth Mountains.

However, the highlight of his life was the many years he played fiddle alongside his wife Sharon as she played the guitar and sang. They played in a band together for many years, traveling around, playing in clubs. His whole family always enjoyed listening to the two of them play together. They have recorded 2 albums together. One of the last times they played together was at their granddaughter Randi Marie’s wedding in 2017. Stan stood by his love a third time as she fought cancer one final time before passing away on December 23, 2018.

Stan is loved by his 7 kids, 12 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren, plus several bonus grandkids, and many nieces and nephews. He is survived by his sister Joann, his three boys Steve (Jayne) Clelland, Meridian ID; Scott (Grechen) Clelland, Twin Falls ID; Stanford (Paula) Clelland, Twin Falls ID; David (Debra) Stanhope, Roberts MT; Randy Stanhope (fiance Shelley Rankin) in Miles City MT, Shelly (Jack) Weger of Sheridan WY; Sherry Stanhope in Glendive MT; and Carol Schneider in Miles City MT. He is also survived by his twelve grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren and his brother-in-law Jack (Sue) Campbell, Helena MT; four sisters-in-law Frankie Christiansen, Great Falls MT; Kathy Randall (Archie), Cheyenne WY; Glenda Jackson, Miles City MT; Tammy Campbell Foley, Butte MT.

Stan was preceded in death by his loving wife Sharon, his parents Charles and Gretchen. His in-laws Fred and Bessie Campbell, sister-in-law Nancy Campbell, and two brother-in-laws Robert Campbell and Fred Campbell Jr.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, with the family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Interment with full military honors will follow in the Eastern Montana Veterans State Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials in Stan’s honor may be made to: The Glendive Medical Center Foundation (Hospice) 202 Prospect Drive, Glendive, Montana 59330 or to the charity of your choice.

Service Schedule

Family to Receive Friends

4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Thursday September 25, 2025

Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home

1717 Main St

Miles City, Montana 59301

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Funeral Service

2:00 PM

Friday September 26, 2025

Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home

1717 Main St

Miles City, Montana 59301

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Interment with Full Military Honors

Following the Funeral Service

Friday September 26, 2025

Eastern Montana State Veteran's Cemetery

Miles City, Montana 59301

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