Arthur Dale McClellan was born on December 19th, 1923 in Grace, Bannock, Idaho to Scott McClellan and Mildred Lone Ayiett who were both 33 years old at the time of his birth (see attached birth certificate).
Arthur was the fourth oldest child in his family.
Art's mother was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and would have her husband drop her off at her church meetings each Sunday and would be brought home by other church members. Scott was not a member of the church and Art was the only one of his siblings who has never gone inactive in the church. He was number four of six children. His other siblings are in order: Hollis, Avis, Verla, himself, Karol, and Deloris (see attached will of Scott and Mildred McClellan).
Art attended Niter Elementary school from 1929 to 1935, 1st grade to 6th grade. Art was baptized on September 3rd, 1932. He attended Grace Elementary School from 1935 to 1937, 7th, and 8th grade.
Art and Hollis were the only boys in the family and cared a heavy load of the chores. Growing up, Art's father was a sheepman and a dairy farmer so there were many chores. In fact, Art would have to come home right after school to milk the cows. He did not date much because their only vehicle was a flat bed truck.
Arthur was involved with sports and was the manager of the football team at Grace Rural High School. He also participated in and loved baseball. He played for the Grace Lions and later for the city league fast pitch softball team in Rupert.
He graduated from high school on the 19th day of May, 1937 from Grace Rural High School. The commencement for the class of 1941 was held at the Grace Tabernacle on May 23rd. Arthur graduated from seminary on May 12th,1940.
Arthur was awarded his Eagle Scout award on March 30th, 1944 in stake conference with LeGrand Richards, the Presiding Bishop present. This was at a time when few people received such honors. Art was always very proud of receiving his Eagle Scout.
He received infantry training specially qualified for the Anti Tank Gun Crewman from October 9th, 1944 to January 20th, 1945 at Camp Hood Texas. Art served in the Anti Tank Co 306 Infantry Regiment. His highest grade was a Technician Fourth Grade. He received the following badges and decorations: Combat Infantryman Badge, Philippine Liberation Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He fought in the Ryukyus Ground Combat. He served for a total of two years, two months, and one day (see attached military records).
While in the service, he wrote regularly to his mother. He recorded in these letters such activities as playing baseball, basketball, swimming, touch football and ping-pong. He enjoyed photography and took many pictures of the places he visited during the war.
Art recorded, "We got on a C-47 with nine fellows aboard and of all things went swimming. I have done a lot of crazy things but going swimming in an airplane tops them all, I think. It was the first time I have been up in a plane and was quite an experience (Letter to Mother, 12 August 1948 Tokyo, Japan)."
He also recorded, "I arrived on Okinawa the I Oh of May on the U.S. S. Sea Runner (a troop transport). The night before we reached Okinawa, we had two submarine attacks on our convoy. I heard later that the Japs fired several torpedoes, but none of the ships were hit. They sunk the 2 Jap subs. We could feel the dept charges go off. It was all very exciting (Letter to Mother 8 September 1945 Ceba, P.D)."
Art was a Private First Class Automatic Rifleman for four months and the Tec 4 Clerk Typist for 12 months. As the Clerk Typist he performed various clerical and typing duties while with the Service Company 8th Cavalry in Japan. He prepared military correspondence, records, reports, stencils, morning reports, and requisitions for supplies. He distributed classified field correspondence, opened mail, received and transmitted telephone messages. For one month he inspected and made tonnage estimations of parts to be destroyed in Japanese factories. For further information one could read the book "Ours To Hold It High" written about his 306th Infantry Regiment.
Art sent back from the war Japanese swords, Japanese guns, a Japanese flag, some pictures, currency, parachute handkerchiefs, his rifle and bayonet, silk and other things.
After the war, Art attended Utah State University and left to begin farming with only one quarter left before graduation. He also received his letter from Utah State as a manager in the Aggies Intramural Program in 1949.
He married Betty Jo Jensen (the daughter of Martin LeRoy Jensen and Olive Vera Clark) on February 14th 1952 in the Idaho Falls temple (see attached marriage certificate).
They had the following children:
Kent 4 Mar 1953
Terrie Lynn 15 Dec 1954
Kerma 14 Jun 1959
Byron I Sep 1962
Myron I Sep I 962
(see attached church record & family group record)
Betty Jo and Art acquired land through the desert entry program. His brother Hollis, through his connection, knew about the land coming up for bid and Scott McClellan (Art's father),
Hollis McClellan, and Art all acquired land, through the program, next to each other. Betty Jo and Art's farm is located: T. 9 S., R. 22 E., Sec. 5. of Boise Meridian, Idaho. They owned 3/4 of section 5, which amounted to a little over 480 acres. They later acquired more land to total 560 acres (see attached deed).
Art was active in the church and loved the scouting program. One of his scouts wrote a letter describing how he felt after Art's death. It reads as follows:
When I heard that Art was sick I reflected on the impact he has had on my life. Last Sunday I was to give a training course to our Young Men and Young Women's presidencies on the role of an advisor and the influence it can have on an individual. The memories were very emotional ones, but I can remember so clearly the times he took us camping and on activities. I remember the time that he took us to Pocatello to teach us how to swim so we could get our swimming merit badge. He was a great swimmer but an even greater example, one of the major reasons I got my Eagle was because of his example and prodding and I will always be grateful for his example and the care and concern he had for me. (Letter from Scout: Warren Harper)
Lee Morgan, who later married Betty Jo after Art passed away, remembers replacing Art as the Elders Quorum President. Art served as the Elders Quorum president from 1960-1964. He describes Art as very friendly and often in deep thought. He mentioned that Art was a good skier and loved to ski. He also remembers how Art helped him build the shelter above his trailer at Claredon in Hailey, Idaho. (Interview with Art's Friend and later Betty Jo’s husband: Lee Morgan)
Arthur was ordained a High Priest on April 11, 1976 under the hands of Harold R. Hurst. His priesthood line of authority is as follows:
Harold R. Hurst--Alvin R. Dyer--Joseph F. Smith-Brigham Young--The Three Witnesses--Joseph Smith-Peter James and John-Jesus Christ.
Art also enjoyed fishing and hunting and took up archery and golf a few years before he
died. Art died on February 27th,1985 in Burley ldaho of cancer and was buried on March 2nd 1985 in Paul, Minidoka, Idaho (see attached death certificate).
Selected Memories from Interviews with the Children and Wife of Arthur McClellan
(Interviews Conducted by Michael McClellan Art's Grandson)
I remember when Dad was trying to get Myron and I to get one of the cows into the corral and was getting after us because we were too "chicken" to stand in front. He finally told us that he would show us how. The cow ran right over the top of Dad. (Son: Byron)
I remember when Grandpa Scott McClellan was driving around the farm and saw me get the tractor stuck and lectured me all the way to the house about how time was money. When we told Dad about it, Dad began to lecture me that Grandpa had already done a good job at that and Dad didn't say more. (Son: Kent)
Dad told me about how he remembers Paul H Dunn trying to organize a baseball team while they were on the ship traveling to the Philippines. (Son: Kent)
I also remember that the equipment was always shut down on Sunday and that dad taught by example, In fact, I remember one of dad's close friends (Clyde Harper) saying in a church meeting that he has never know anyone who could teach the gospel so well, without saying a word, as Arthur McClellan.(Son: Kent)
I also remember dad slipping in a movie to give mom a bad time for family home evening. It was a movie of him chasing mother around the car while she was trying to change. (Son: Kent)
I remember shortly after getting my driver's license, I pulled up to a mailbox outside the post office in Burley. I thought I was a great driver and pulled really close so I could reach-only when I pulled away the back door handle on the car caught on the mailbox and ripped the door handle off, I was so worried that dad would be mad-but all he said was "well we all do dumb things sometimes."(Daughter: Terrie)
The year the twins came home from their missions we surprised mom and dad by coming to
Idaho for Christmas. I remember dad getting bundled up and giving my California boys rides on his snowmobile. (Daughter: Terrie)
When we lived in California, Mom & Dad came to visit us every year. I remember that the first time they came was during a baseball strike. The 2nd year, Byron and Myron were with them and Dad wanted to go to a professional baseball game-no one else wanted to because the teams that were in town were not very good and there were other things to do. Dad gave in and did what everyone else wanted to do. The 3rd year, we finally went to an Oakland A's game. After the game, he told us it had always been one of his dreams to attend a major league baseball game. We were glad we had a part in that dream coming true. (Daughter Terrie)
Dad was interested in history. When we went on vacation-we stopped at and read every historical marker along the way. (Daughter: Terrie)
I remember that dad would always have the equipment off on Sunday and would not budge on that. I remember Dad giving a sincere talk to Byron and I when we came home from our missions. He told us that an education is very important and that we could not afford it but told us that things would work out and that he wanted us to go to college. I also remember having fun with dad on the ski slopes every year with a group of friends. (Son: Myron)
I remember when dad would let me drive the truck while feeding cattle when I was three or four. Now as I look back I realize that the bailing twin tied to the steering wheel was what was really driving the truck. I also remember Dad driving the Scout back to the house and was swerving back and forth between the barrow pits. He turned really sharp into the yard because he was trying to get the Scout to slow down because the breaks had gone out. I remember that when ever something would break down, we would walk back to the house and Dad would go down there and start it right up and ask us what was wrong with it. I also remember when I went to pick up Dad on the three wheeler for dinner and he was driving back to the house. I told him if he went through the ditch he would flip the three wheeler. He said, "no it won't" and gunned it and we ended up flipping over. I also remember that dad went into town one morning and was expected home for lunch at 12:30 and mom had everything ready for lunch. Dad showed up about 3:30 and mom was upset. Dad had meet Kenith Hansen in town and had been convinced to fly to Jackpot in Kenith's plane for lunch. (Daughter: Kerma)
I also remember Dad buzzing the crops with Floyd Mingo in an airplane to try and stir up the air to keep the frost off the crops. I don't know if it worked but they seemed to have fun. (Daughter: Kerma)
Art did not like to talk about the war much but told me about how he saw a lot of action. He had friends shot down on the side of him and was asked once by his commander to go in after a wounded man in the midst of a battle. He rescued the guy with bullets flying all around him. He also told of meeting General Dwight Eisenhower in the service and was very impressed with him. He told me that I had better vote for him. I also remember one time when Art wanted me to drive our three-wheel tractor in the hay field. I could not steer the thing and ended up in the beet field. Art just said, "you better let me do this."(Wife: Betty Jo)
I remember when Art bought the pivot for the farm and how all the farmers from around gathered to see if it would work. This was the first pivot in this type of area and the farmers were betting on whether it would get over top of the rock pile or not. (Wife: Betty Jo)
