Claro Edward Bergevin

Claro Edward Bergevin was born August 9, 1923, to Clement Oliver and Emma Mae Smith Bergevin in Walla Walla.  He passed April 1, 2019, at age 95, and went to join his beloved wife of 70 years Betty Jean.

Claro graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1941, active in Future Farmers of America, R.O.T.C., and the Rifle Club.  While at Wa-Hi, Claro also ran track and participated in the State Track Meet in Pullman his senior year.  At the state meet, Claro set the 440 Dash record and Wa-Hi captured the Washington State Track Team Championship.  Claro held the 440 Dash Washington state high school record for 19 years.  He still holds the 440 Dash (converted to 400 meters) record at Wa-Hi.  Claro received a track scholarship to Washington State College (now WSU) and was a student there until enlisting in the Marine Corps during WWII.

Claro served in the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946, honorably discharged as a Sergeant.  In preparation for the invasion of Iwo Jima in February 1945, Claro trained as a Sherman Tank Driver at Camp Pendleton and at the Parker Ranch on the island of Hawaii.  He fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima for 36 days as a Tank Commander with Company B, 5th Tank Battalion, 5th Marine Division.  Claro cherished the relationships formed with his platoon buddies as he helped organize reunions throughout the United States and Marine events in Walla Walla.  In November 2014, he was the guest of honor at the Marine Corps Ball at Yakima celebrating the Marine Corps birthday.  For the commemoration of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Claro returned to Iwo Jima in the spring of 2011 accompanied by his son Terry.  Accompanied by his granddaughter Adele Bergevin Ohler, he also traveled to Washington DC on the Veterans Honor Flight.  Claro was honored to receive a Quilt of Valor pieced by Walla Walla Sweet Freedom Quilters and quilted by Terri Hellberg on 6/24/16.

After his discharge from the Marines, Claro returned to the family farm in the Frenchtown area near Lowden.  He married Betty Jean Rogers in Walla Walla on February 23, 1947, and they settled on the farm.  They would add five children to the family over the next 10 years.  Claro and Betty farmed in Walla Walla County and purchased a farm in Franklin County.  They raised alfalfa hay, wheat, sugar beets, sweet corn and asparagus.  He was a breeder of registered Hereford cattle for over 30 years, showed, and sold Hereford cattle in the western United States.  The Franklin County farm sold and son Terry assumed farming the Walla Walla County Farm in 1970.  In 1970, Claro accepted a management position with Brea Ag (now McGregor Company) in Touchet, retiring in 1992 from McGregor.  He continued to farm part time until 2004 while he and Betty traveled extensively visiting 48 of 50 States.

Claro is a former member of the American Hereford Association, North Pacific Hereford Association, Washington State Hereford Association, Walla Walla County and Washington State Cattlemen’s Associations, Walla Walla Farmers Co-op, board member Walla Walla School Board 140, Walla Walla County Planning Commission, and Frenchtown Recreation Club.  In 1991, he was a founding member and one of the first commissioners of the Washington State Asparagus Association and in 1995 earned Washington State Asparagus Farmer of the Year.  He was a participant, supporter and volunteer at the Southeastern Washington Fair and Frontier Days and horse race commissioner for six years.  In addition, he was a former member of the Elks Club 287, VFW Post 992 and Walla Walla Country Club.  In his retirement, he volunteered for many years at Fort Walla Walla Museum.  He and wife Betty attended Assumption Catholic Church.

Claro was one of the first inductees into the Wa-Hi Hall of Fame in 1993, and subsequently served on the Wa-Hi Hall of Fame Committee and recognized in 2005 as a Wa-Hi Graduate of Distinction.  In addition, Claro was truly honored when selected in 1995 to represent the community as the Parade Marshal for the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days.  Claro was a local historian and founding Board Member of the Frenchtown Historical Foundation.  He was instrumental along with his father Clem and other family members in keeping alive French heritage in the Walla Walla Valley.  He participated in the formation of the Frenchtown Historic Site in 2010.  His granddaughter Tera Zohner Teas wrote for his 94th birthday August 9, 2017: “Grandpa has lived through hard times, war, and good times with Grandma Betty, farm life with five children, oodles of grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He has taught us courage, bravery, independence, strength and love.  How to work hard for everything we need and want, but how to let loose and have fun with family and friends.  He’s a great man and we are blessed for every day with him.”

Claro is survived by five children and their spouses: Karen and Chuck Zohner of Tollgate, Oregon, Terry and Marilyn (Guglielmelli) Bergevin, Mike and Annette (Ford) Bergevin, Debbie Bergevin Beal and Rudi Thomas, Dave and Jeanne (Shea) Bergevin all of Walla Walla; 10 grandchildren: Stacy and Alexis Bergevin, Adele and Jeff Ohler, Chris and Kari Zohner, Tera Zohner Teas, Justin Bergevin, Michelle and Jason Rutherford, Heather and Dave Mann, Jennifer (Jae) and Brandon Moss, Ryan and Laura Bergevin, Jeremy and Amy Bergevin; and 15 great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Dave Armstrong of Green Valley, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Jean; his parents, Clem and Emma; stepmother, Margaret Anderson Bergevin; twin sister, Claire Spohn of Walla Walla; sister, Margery Smith Bryan of Moses Lake; two grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Viewing for family and friends will be at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder Street, Walla Walla, on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 3 p.m., followed by Rosary at 6 p.m.  A Funeral Mass will be held at Assumption Catholic Church, 2098 E Alder Street, Walla Walla, on Friday, April 26, 2019, at 1 p.m., followed by Graveside services at Mountain View Cemetery.  Family and friends are invited to a reception at Assumption Parish Hall from 3-5 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Frenchtown Historical Foundation through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home.