John Wayne Clugston, 78

John Wayne Clugston of Whitehall, Montana, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2026. He was born on August 3, 1947, to Wayne Clugston and Sylvia (Clugston) Jenkins in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

John was a hard-working man who loved to fish, design jewelry, polish stone, woodcarve, and create and invent new things that one would think were impossible to accomplish. Those are only a very few of his talents; John had many jobs. His passion was logging and gold panning; he also loved to eat, especially at K-Bar in Whitehall and Perkins in Butte. Going out to eat brought him great joy. Relaxing for John was gold prospecting, fishing, and watching his cats, Fluffy, Sparkles, and Nugget, play.

John, a most incredible and amazing man, served our country as a Marine in the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1974. He saw many things that hurt his mind and heart; he was honorably discharged, though coming home to the USA, he found himself unwanted, jobless, homeless, and mentally fractured, to say the least. After years of physical and psychiatric help, he made it out the other side. John said that after Vietnam, he knew how to survive, but didn't know how to live.

John married Joyce Pearson on February 22, 2002. Along with that marriage came a stepson, Sean Pearson, a daughter-in-law, Molly Pearson, and two step-grandchildren, Hanna Rose Pearson and Max Henry Pearson, from Billings. John was very grateful and proud to be a part of their lives.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Sylvia Clugston; his brother, Tom Clugston, of Oregon; his sister, Beverly Ciferri, of Washington; and his daughter-in-law, Molly Pearson, of Montana.

John leaves behind his sisters, Belinda Brocius of Pennsylvania and Joan Hayes of Oregon; his nieces and nephews, friends, and his adorable cats, Fluffy, Sparkles, and Nugget. John will be deeply missed by his family and friends and all who knew and loved him.

A date to honor John's life has not been decided as of yet - possibly the end of May or the first of June; the date will be posted once decided. Many thanks to the Whitehall Church of Christ, which was there for him and with him.

Never forget the men and women who have served and are serving. They are part of our national security; they are our heroes. There are those who have given the ultimate, physically and mentally. Hold them high and give thanks to our Lord above for each and every one of them, just as we give thanks to God for our John Clugston.