Clifford Duane Kruse passed away May 5, 2020 at St. Peter's Hospital from a short bout with cancer. Clifford came into this world as the first-born child of Howard Hollaway Kruse and Margaret Ann Schreiner in Wenatchee, Washington on June 30, 1934. The new family returned to Townsend, MT a short time later.Cliff was raised in Townsend where he did everything a young boy could do growing up in a small farming community where everyone knew everyone or was related, and his dad was the night marshal. He bucked bales on the Ragen Ranch, helped his mother and grandmother at the Town Talk, picked up bottles to sell back, and helped Shorty Sauter run the projectors at the theater. When the family moved to East Helena and Helena in the early 1950's he stayed in Townsend with his Grandma May Schreiner and rejoined the family in Helena, completing his last two years of school at Helena High with the Class of 1953. He served in the National Guard from 1953 until 1954. He joined the U.S. Army in 1954 where he was with the Military Police in Germany.Cliff married Mary Lou Moore on 7/10/1954 in Helena. Their son, Daniel Thomas was born in Germany. When he discharged, they returned to Helena where their daughter, Linda Kay was born and two years later their son, Patrick Kelly was born. They were divorced in 1961. Cliff worked at the East Helena Smelter and then worked at the Motor Mart as a mechanic until it burned down. He then went to work for family friend, Bud Saunter at the M L Brown Sporting Goods. In 1962 he met Dorothy Jean Gustafson at the RB Drive in. They were married 9/8/1962.They moved to Anaconda in 1964 when Cliff went to work as a diesel mechanic in Butte at the Berkley Garage for the Anaconda company. He stayed there until Arco bought the "company" and closed mining operations in 1983.Cliff and Jeanie returned to Helena in 1992 after she lost her job when the bank was closed. Cliff then worked as a prep cook at Jorgenson's, a janitor at Shopko and then for Lonnie Davis Maintenance cleaning the Montana Power Shop (NorthWest Energy).Cliff was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Margaret Kruse; Son, Patrick Kelly Kruse; sister, Roberta Charlene Kruse; brothers-in-law, Gerald Morrissey and Charles Gustafson; father and mother-in-law, Carl and Frances Gustafson; grandparents and very special aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides of his family.He is survived by his wife, Dorothy "Jean"; son, Daniel (Maria); daughter, Linda (Leon); sisters and brother-in-law, Myrna Morrissey, Karyl (Vernon) Williams; sister-in-law, Judy Gustafson; daughter-in-law, Jo Lynn Kruse; 7 grandchildren/step-grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, 8 very special nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces, nephews, and cousins.Private family burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens between Butte and Anaconda. Memorial services will take place at a later date when it is safe to do so. Memorials can made to the donor's choice.Simple Cremation Montana has assisted the family.