Clinton D. Froke

Clint Froke of Walla Walla, Washington, passed away on March 17, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. He was 65.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Clint was the son of Clinton and Esther Froke. Clint’s parents moved the young family several times before settling in Deer Lodge, Montana where Clint’s father took a job with the railroad instilling in young Clint a lifelong love of railroads. Clint grew up under the vast Montana skies and seconds away from untamed natural beauty. He and his siblings rode their bikes everywhere, hiked, worked in the garden, played sports in the backyard, climbed Mount Powell, and took to calling mom at work to resolve disagreements. His youth was not without its struggles and hardships but it taught Clint the importance of humor, perseverance, and kindness.

Clint planned to follow in his father’s footsteps and devote his professional life to the railroad. However, after surviving near misses while connecting train cars, camping under railroad bridges in subzero temperatures without heaters, and the permanent lack of job security, he returned to college to study Informational Technology.

Clint graduated from National American University in 1984. That same year, he began what would become a decades-long career in IT at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla—a place and a team that became a second family to him.

Clint worked at Whitman College for several years where he was the Assistant Coach for the women’s basketball team, a role he loved, working under Head Coach John Wilcox, whom he considered a life mentor. During his time at Whitman, his work in the IT department introduced him to his lifelong friends, describing this core group as family.

Clint wasn’t just good at solving tech problems; he had a rare gift for making people feel seen and heard. Whether it was a patient, coworker, or a stranger on the street, Clint had a quiet way of offering his full presence. He liked people, and they liked him. He could disarm seriousness with kindness, meet worry with gentle humor, and offer his time without hesitation.

He was also a force of nature on two wheels.

An avid cyclist, Clint biked almost every day when he was able, often surrounded by friends who knew to expect both big hills and big laughs. But cycling, for Clint, wasn’t just recreation— it became a mission. After cancer touched his own family, he turned to the bike as a tool for hope and healing, helping raise funds for Providence St. Mary’s Regional Cancer Center Special Needs Fund. He loved that the money stayed local, going to neighbors who might otherwise have to choose between rent and chemotherapy.

Clint’s commitment went far beyond the donation page. In 2015, he rode his bike from Walla Walla to the Canadian border—nearly 250 miles—in under 24 hours, riding through fatigue, hypothermia, forest fire smoke, and even a hernia (he had surgery afterward). Another year, he rode from Canada back to Walla Walla, pushing himself again, not for glory, but to make a difference. His sense of humor never faltered; he could tell a great story about being pulled over by a sheriff within the first five minutes for “weaving” (he was dodging potholes). His adventures weren’t just physical feats—they were extensions of his generosity, his optimism, and his grit. Those who knew Clint would describe him as adventurous, thoughtful, positive, and endlessly kind. He caught grasshoppers with his niece, got into firework scrapes with his nephew, played pirates in a backyard fort with pint-sized scamps, and passed down the family tradition of playing cribbage to his extended family. He could tell tales of his time on the railroad that combined a little Montana grit with a lot of dry wit. He was the guy who would inflate a toddler bed at midnight, push a stroller through a muddy trail so others could talk, and find joy in the smallest things.

Clint married Melissa Adams at their home in Walla Walla. Their love was easy to see—hand-in-hand, full of respect, laughter, and partnership. Whether it was yard work or test prep, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at midnight or cheering each other on, they were truly in it together. Clint was proud to be her partner and brought the same gentleness, humor, and encouragement to their marriage that he gave to everything else in life.

He is survived by his wife, Melissa Adams Froke; his siblings, Steve Froke of Deer Lodge, Connie Akers (Scot Akers) of Homer, Alaska, and Heidi Klick (Bruce Klick) of Simms, Montana; his in-laws Richard and Sheri Adams of Gig Harbor, Washington, and Bryan and Kristina Adams of Edgewood, Washington; and his nieces and nephews, Leslie, Landon, and Conner Klick, McKenzie Akers-White (Andy White), John, and Madison Akers, and Camden, Emersyn, and Griffin Adams. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Esther Froke.

A memorial service celebrating Clint’s life will be held on Saturday, June 21, at 4:00 PM at the First Congregational Church, 73 S Palouse St., Walla Walla, WA.

In honor of Clint, flowers (excluding lilies) are appreciated, or consider a donation to your favorite charity.