Wanda Clark

Wanda Rae Clark died peacefully in her adult care home in Chehalis,
WA May 3, 2025 at the age of 89.
She was born Wanda Rae Okerstrom Feb. 20, 1936, to Clint and Nida
Okerstrom. A sister, Donna, preceded her in death.
Wanda grew up in Thurston County. After graduating from Chehalis
High School she married Ronald Arthur Powell. While he was stationed
in the Army at Fort Lewis, they had daughter Ronda Jean Powell.
The unusual first-name spelling came from a combination of her
parent's names.
They then moved to Bellingham, WA, so Ron could attend Western
Washington University to become a teacher. That's where son Steven
Arthur Powell was born. His middle name was the same as his dad's
and grandfather's.
They moved to Orting where Ron taught for a year. But he decided
that wasn't for him so he went into real estate, and they moved to
Puyallup, where son Michael Clinton Powell was born. His middle name
honors Wanda's dad.
The couple raised their kids in Puyallup. Wanda workedas a keypunch
operator at Puget Sound National Bank and at corporation giant
Weyerhauser. But she still had time to be a mom to her 3 children
and she was a fine cook and kept a spotless house.
The family enjoyed camping and spent many a summer visiting relatives
in Idaho. The kids especially enjoyed Uncle Ellis Crathorne's ranch
where they could ride horses. They also spent time at the Okerstrom
strawberry farm in Lacey and the Powell family's house on Pattison
Lake.
After 18 years, the couple divorced. Wanda joined Parents Without
Partners to get to know other people. That's where she met Gary
Clark, whom she would marry in August of 1977.
They were together for 48 years. He was retired military and became
a landscaper.
She retired at the young age of 55 and together they became
snowbirds, spending summers in Washington and winters in Arizona.
Year after year Gary would drive their huge 5th-wheeler back and
forth. Then they purchased modular homes in both areas of the country.
They became very active in the senior community, enjoying dancing,
dressing up in funny clothes for events and other activities. They spent
a lot of time collecting pop cans to donate to the Ronald McDonald
House. Gary was an avid golfer. In her younger adult years Wanda
enjoyed bowling.
In their later years as their health declined they spent most of
their time relaxing in their lounge chairs watching TV. Home health
cared for them for a while before they moved to an adult home. Ronda
was there to do whatever she could to help them in their final years.
Gary died just months before Wanda. They were both cremated and buried
together in Tahoma Cemetery for veterans near Kent, WA.
Wanda is survived by children Ronda, Steve and Mike; stepchildren
Stephen, Karen and Mark; and grandchildren Amanda and Travis; Angela,
Christopher and Stacey; Christy and Don; Brett and Brad; Raylynn
and Arkane; Kyle and Rebecca; and Jared, Rowenna, and Kennedy; and numerous
great grandchildren.