Claire C Rose

Claire C.  (Evans) Rose, 77, passed away Friday, March 24, 2023, at the Libby Care Center in Libby, Montana. Claire was born to Lloyd and Alice Evans in Missoula, Montana, on May 16, 1945.  The family moved to Libby in 1949, where Lloyd began his law practice.  Claire and her brothers lived on their Whiskey Hill farm along with a vast array of domestic and wild animals that her parents accumulated. Summer days were spent riding donkeys and horses, weeding the garden, swimming in Libby Creek, and exploring the surrounding forests and mountains.

Claire attended elementary and high school in Libby, and graduated from the University of Montana in 1967.  Upon graduation, she took a train to New York City to study photography and went on to work in photography studios in the city for 2 years.   In 1969, she returned to Montana and worked for a year as a social worker on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation.  She then returned to the field of photography in a studio in Phoenix, Arizona.  In 1972, she joined the U.S. Army, studied the Russian language at the Defense Language Institute, and worked for the Army Security Agency in Berlin, Germany for 3 years.  After discharge from the Army, she and a friend toured Europe and Israel by bicycle for 9 months, before backpacking through the Middle East and India for 3 months.

Upon returning to the United States, Claire studied nursing at Montana State University and received her BSN in 1981.  She proceeded to work for 23 years as a registered nurse in the states of Montana and Washington; primarily in the psychiatric wards.  In 1997, Claire began working at the Pathways Treatment Center in Kalispell, Montana, where she met her future husband Bob Rose, who was working there as a counselor.  They were married in 2000 in the woods by their home in Coon Hollow.

In 2005, Claire and Bob moved to Libby and had a house built on the Evans family property on Whiskey Hill.  Claire accepted a job as the program coordinator for MASSA, a federal/state asbestos screening clinic. She worked there until the program was terminated in December 2008.  

Claire loved all animals, big and small, especially dogs.  She was always invested in one dog or another. She volunteered at the animal shelters in various places and served as a board member for Kootenai Pets for Life.  She loved living in the country and lobed the seclusion of her homes in Coon Hollow and Whiskey Hill.

Claire is preceded in death by her parents; and brother Curt.

Claire is survived by her husband Bob Rose; brothers Chuck Evans and Kelly Evans; stepchildren Robin Rose, Stephen Rose, and Summer Rose; nine nieces and nephews; 8 grand nieces and nephews; and step granddaughter Chloe.

To Claire’s many friends who might be interested, they may honor her life by making a contribution to Kootenai Pets for Life.

Arrangements are under the care of the Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby.  Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.

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