By HDN staff
CLAIR BRINKMAN
CHINOOK Clair A. Brinkman, 88, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999, at a Havre hospital of natural causes.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses.
Brinkman was born Dec. 14, 1910, in Leith, N.D., to Fred and Emma (Cooley) Brinkman. He moved with his family to Chinook and attended schools there. He started farming with his father and later was employed on Fort Peck Dam. He returned and purchased the family farm which he later sold to his brother and purchased a farm south east of Chinook now known as the Brinkman Farms.
On June 6, 1943, he married Emilie Brezina in Fort Benton.
Brinkman was an active farmer and pilot. He owned several different makes and models of planes since he started flying in the 1940s. During floods and snow blizzards he would fly food supplies to farmers and ranchers and also hunted for stranded livestock. He flew to Canada fishing and Mexico for winters.
He enjoyed visiting with people about the Bible.
Survivors include his wife, Emilie of Chinook; sons, Ron Brinkman of Great Falls, Dean Brinkman of Billings, and Jerry Brinkman of Chinook; a brother, Del Brinkman of Big Fork; sisters, Doris Neufeld and Lona Chapman both of Chinook; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.
