Claire Wayne Behlings, 97, of Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away on Oct. 5, 2022, at the HopeWest facility in Grand Junction.
Claire was born July 11, 1925, in Dunbar, Iowa, to Walter and Inez Behlings. When Claire was 11 years old, he became a big brother to his sister, Marilyn.
He graduated from Madison Minnesota High School and the Gale Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Claire volunteer for the U.S. Army in the fall 1943, serving from January 1944 and being honorably discharged in November 1946 during World War II. He served in the Philippines
and Japan with the 33rd Infantry Division and 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper.
Upon discharge from the service, Claire returned to Minnesota to help with the family farm and found farming was not for him. He began working for the Milwaukee Railroad as an agent and telegraph operator, retiring in the spring 1986.
Claire met Arline Ruth Hank in Madison, Minnesota, at the town’s carnival, on the tilt-a-whirl. He always said she just slid into his arms, and he never let go. Claire and Arline married June 4, 1949, and they began their journey of life, moving to work for the railroad in Perry, Iowa, and raising three daughters.
Claire and Arline moved to Mesa, Arizona, for their retirement years until health issues
caused them to move to Grand Junction in order to be closer to their two surviving daughters in 2008.
Claire is survived by his daughters, Diane Razee of Grand Junction and Julie Bitner of Grand Junction; sister, Marilyn Olson of Madison, Minnesota; son-in-law, Don (Sandra) Wheeler of Phoenix; grandchildren, Shawn Wheeler of Phoenix, Jeff (Mary) Wheeler of Phoenix, Michelle Long of Denver, Scott Long of Phoenix, Ashley (Alex) Trandall of Denver, Heather (Robert) Agnew of Sacramento, California, and Jaimee Razee of Denver; nine great-grandchildren, Alex Wheeler, Desiree Smith, Austin Jordan, Kourtney Long, Brayden Long, Zachary Long, Ethan Agnew, Brooklyn Agnew and Gwendolyn Trandall; and many nephews and nieces; along with many friends.
He is proceeded in death by his parents; wife; and his daughter, Kathy Wheeler.
Claire will be remembered for his kindness and sense of humor. He was an awesome father,
grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many. MumaTuk Dad, until we meet again! You are loved!
