Billie Marie Clinger

Billie Marie Clinger, age 92, died on October 22, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Billie was born on December 7, 1929 to William F. and Virginia H. (Jorgensen) Heder in Los Angeles, California. Her family moved to Berkley for a while, then San Diego, and finally settled in Glendale, California where her father had established his dental practice.
Billie attended Pomona College at the age of 16 majoring in Piano. While there she was involved in many stimulating musical endeavors. Music continued to be a very important part of her life. She met the love of her life her during this time, and wrote letters while he was a way on a church mission. She graduated from Pomona College in April of 1949.
Billie married Daniel Arthur Clinger on June 20, 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Westwood, California while Dan attended UCLA. Soon afterward they purchased a home in Reseda, California and moved there with their two small children.
In October 1953, when she was only 23 years old and expecting, she became ill, was hospitalized and diagnosed with Polio. She spent 5 months in a respirator apart from her family including her newborn third child who was born during this time. After two years of therapy and the continuing love and support of her husband, family and friends she gained enough strength return home and begin her new life.
Dan worked to make their new home wheelchair accessible; this helped Billie fulfill her desire to serve her family. Her faith, determination and courage sustained her as she learned new ways to manage her physical disability. She never let her limitations prevent her from loving and caring for her family and serving in church and community. Although she was in a wheelchair, she was happy that she could do many of the things that were most important to her. Billie and Dan were blessed with three more children completing their family of two sons and four daughters. Later, Billie & Dan relocated to St. George, Utah where they found many new friends and opportunities to serve. Their home became a gathering place for family.
Billie had many interests and talents that she developed over the course of her life. Music was an important part of her life and she continued to improve her knowledge and skills. She taught piano lessons to her children and many others young and old. She taught Music classes to children in two different schools for years. Billie accompanied her mother and many other soloists, choirs and congregations on the piano and organ. She had a beautiful alto voice, loved to sing and often did duets with her mother and participated in many choral groups. She also used her talent in conducting musical groups large and small.
Billie was an amazing homemaker. She created wonderful nutritious meals for her family. She enjoyed providing freshly baked breads and goodies. During the summer she and her children kept busy preserving bottles of peaches, apricots, plums, tomatoes, jams & jellies and bread & butter pickles. Billie was a talented seamstress and provided her family with many items of clothing. In her spare moments she created many beautiful items with her skills, including painting ceramics, knitting, crochet, and cross-stitch for gifts and to decorate her home.
Billie loved to be outdoors working in the garden planting flowers, and directing the planting and caring for their large yard. In her later years, she brought nature indoors with her pots of African Violets, Orchids and other house plants which brought her so much joy.
Billie was a lifelong learner always eager to explore areas of interest. Even with six children at home she enrolled in courses on Russian History, Geology, Music Pedagogue, and Music Instruction. She was an avid reader and for many years enjoyed her participation in stimulating book club discussions. She regularly studied the scriptures and other gospel related books.
Family History was very important to Billie. Learning technology and computer skills helped her accomplish her goals in this area. She made trips to the genealogy library in Salt Lake with her mother and other relatives. Along with her daughters Christianne and Naomi she was able to complete and publish the life stories of her father, her mother, her husband and herself.
As a result of her efforts, names of ancestors were discovered so that she and other family members could perform saving ordinances for them in the temple.
Billie was always up for adventure and her family helped to make it happen. Some of the activities she participated in were camping, fishing & horseback riding in the mountains, day trips & camping at the beach, and boating & camping at Lake Powell. Later she enjoyed several trips to Hawaii, Europe, Alaska and cruises to the Panama Canal, Western & Eastern Caribbean and Alaska with her children.
As a faithful and dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Billie served in many capacities. Over the years in her callings as Relief Society and Gospel Doctrine teacher she devoted many hours in the study and preparation for her lessons. Her musical skills were utilized extensively in service as the pianist, organist and choir conductor for her ward. She also shared her talent for singing in the choir, small groups and solos. She served in Young Womens, Primary and was the Stake Nursery Leader. Among the many callings she held in Relief Society, the most demanding were the times she served as Relief Society President in three separate wards. With her husband she served a proselyting mission to Jan Jose, California. Through her Christ-like service she was able to lift and impact the lives of many people. She also developed many lifelong friendships.
All of these interests and talents brought her joy and contributed to her fulfilling the measure of her creation as a daughter of God, a wife, mother and grandmother.
After the death of her husband in 2012, Billie moved from St. George to Salt Lake City. Her architect son Daniel designed a home which provided comfort and accessibility. The Wallace Lane home became a place for many joyful family and ward gatherings.
Billie was a true friend and matriarch, always thinking of others, showing concern, sharing meals, writing notes and making phone calls. She lived by these words, “The true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others”. She lived her life in gratitude for all she was blessed with, always looking outward instead of inward to the unique challenges that she was given. Hers was a life well lived. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Billie’s Celebration of Life & Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022, 10:00am (Viewing 9am). Holladay 26th Ward Bldg. located at 4601 S. Chapel Dr. Holladay, UT 84117.
Interment will be at Holladay Memorial Cemetery directly following the funeral services.
Billie is survived by her six children and 33 grand children. Daniel H. & Sue Clinger – Daniel W., Jennifer, David; Ruth M. (Clinger) & Stephen Gulden – Alicia, Christopher, Jessica, Matthew, Michael; Mark W. & Rachel Clinger – April, Rebecca, Cindy, Valerie, Laura, Susanne; Virginia A. (Clinger) & Rick Owen-Emily, Amanda, Sarah, David R., Katie, Janelle; Naomi E. (Clinger) & Bob Allen – William, Andrew, Jonathan, Natalie, Daniel R., Annemarie, Mary, Elizabeth; and Christianne (Clinger) & David Cox – David B., Benjamin, Mary Jane, Naomi, Lucia. She is also by survived by 89 great-grandchildren.
Service Information
Viewing October 29, 2022 at 9:00-9:45 AM
4601 S. Chapel Drive, Holladay, Utah 84117





Celebration of Life
October 29, 2022 at 10:00 AM
4501 S. Chapel Drive, Holladay, Utah 84117