Memorial Service
Saturday, June 8, 2024
10:00 AM (MDT) | 9:00 AM (PDT)
Bible Baptist Church
118 S. Main Street
Payette, ID. 83661
Church Website
Celebration of Life Service for Dr. Bruce Clatterbuck
Time: Jun 8, 2024 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82576762861
Meeting ID: 825 7676 2861
Bruce and his wife Marge
Dr. Bruce Clatterbuck
Bruce was born August 4, 1939, in Salem, Oregon, joining his older sister Phyllis. Two younger brothers, David and Gary, soon followed. They had the unique experience of growing up on the beautiful campus of the Oregon School for the Deaf, where their parents, Marvin and Margaret Clatterbuck, were teachers.
Few people have a stronger Conservative Baptist (now known as Venture Church Network) heritage than Bruce. Upon his birth, he was soon enrolled in the cradle roll of First Baptist Church, Salem, where his parents taught Sunday School and served in many roles as church officers. He had the privilege of sitting under the feet of great pastors, including Irving Fox, Lloyd T. Anderson, and Arlin Halverson. His youth pastor, Stan Irvine, had a significant impact on his life and was very instrumental in Bruce’s decision to enter the ministry.
His first summer job in high school was at Oregon’s Conservative Baptist camp at Silver Creek Falls. Upon graduating from high school, he attended Multnomah School of the Bible. As a student, he attended Montavilla Baptist Church in Portland, OR, where Russell Shive was the pastor. He knew the Lord was leading him into full-time ministry during this time. He also met his classmate, Marge West, and after graduation, they were married in First Baptist Church, Newberg, Oregon, with Dr. Arlin Halverson officiating.
Bruce was asked to pastor a small rural church in a little community called Paradise that summer with the American Sunday School Union just north of Camas, WA. He continued his ministry even after completing his B.A. degree from Cascade College and through his first year at Western Seminary. There was no pay, even for gas money, but what a wonderful way to practice preaching!!! A daughter, Cathy, was born in August 1962.
The summer of 1963 was spent in Prineville, Oregon serving as summer youth pastor at First Baptist Church, where Stan Irvine was pastor. Before leaving for Prineville, Byron Travis of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Portland asked him to join as his assistant. His responsibilities were to preach one Sunday evening a month and oversee Christian Education. Most importantly, he would have complete responsibility for the high school youth- part-time- which allowed him to continue his seminary studies. During this time, a second daughter, Karen, was welcomed into the family.
On August 15, 1968, he was ordained by First Baptist Church in Salem, Oregon, and in September of the same year, he accepted a call to be the senior pastor of Riverview Baptist Church in Pittsburg, CA.
In 1971, Grace Baptist Church of San Leandro extended a call to become the senior pastor. In addition to his pastoral duties, Bruce taught at the Bay Cities Bible Institute. Other highlights of those years were the mission trips to Mexico with the youth and Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa, where his then-retired parents served as MAC workers at the missionary school in Bouake.
An opportunity presented itself to pursue a doctorate with the California Graduate School of Theology through their extension classes in San Jose. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in June 1975.
On March 1, 1979, at the invitation of the Board of CBA of Northern California, Bruce became the Director of Northern California, filling the vacancy left by Loren Eastman. The offices were soon moved from Hayward to San Jose at the board’s direction, and Harry Twining’s invitation and a new office building was built on the property of Saratoga Avenue Baptist Church. During this time, his vision was for new churches. Mark Platt came on staff as a church planter. During that time, the association grew from about 75 churches to 140 through church plants and daughter churches. Bruce found great joy in assisting and encouraging pastors and churches. He drove about 1,000,000 miles, visiting pastors and churches in the big cities and back roads of Northern California and Nevada. He retired in 2006 but enjoyed an extended interim at High Street Community Church in Santa Cruz.
Bruce and Marge were married for almost 64 years. He is survived by their two married daughters: Cathy (Kent) Murahashi of Bellevue, Washington, where Kent is a church planter, and Karen (Marshall) Meyers of Parma, Idaho. He also has five grandchildren: Laura, Holly, and David Murahashi of WA, Josue Villanueva of Parma, ID, and Alicia Villanueva of Reno, NV.
His sister, Phyllis, retired from CBI after serving more than 40 years as a missionary in Brazil. She passed away in 2019. His brother, David, was a youth and CE pastor before teaching Christian Education at Northwest Christian College in St. Paul, MN, and is now retired and lives in California. His brother, Gary, has served as a pastor to seniors in Arroyo Grande and is now retired.
Bruce entered the gates of heaven after a brief illness on April 25, 2024, at his home in Fruitland, Idaho, where he resided for the last five years.
If you would like to share a comment below, these posts will be forwarded to the family.
Bruce was a champion for the local church. I am thankful for his humble spirit, his service for Christ, and his encouragement and friendship. We were blessed with his ministry with integrity. Thank you for your labor Bruce. Now rejoice in the presence of the Lord.
As a young couple fresh out of seminary, serving as the first program director at Silver Spur Camp & Conference Center and expecting our first child, Bruce showed up one day totally unannounced with a crib for us. We refinished it, put it together and it served very well for our two children. We even took it to Japan with us. We will never forget the thoughtfulness and generosity of Bruce in that action and many other things he did.
Fifty years ago Bruce came into my life as a mentor, fellow shepherd and friend. I am so grateful for his leadership, advice, and counsel over the decades. Marge and the family have every right to be so very proud of Bruce. I certainly am. It is well said that heaven is a lot more real when someone you love us there.
While his tenure was not lengthy, Bruce also served as the Interim Pastor at Good Shepherd Church, Tracy, November 2007 – September 2008. It was under his leadership that I was selected as a candidate (and eventual pastor) of Good Shepherd in September 2008 while his continued mentoring led me to attend Western Seminary the day after being installed as pastor! His guidance and mentoring continue with me to this day. Thank you Marge and family for sharing your husband and father with so many. We are blessed and better for it!
My Heart and pray goes out to the Clatterbuck family. I got to meet Bruce once or twice at Berryessa Valley Church in San Jose CA. He was great preacher of God’s Word. It was blessing to me him for limit time I had with him. May God’s loving comfort and peace be with the Clatterbuck family. May they be filled with hope that he has gone home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Many men in pastoral ministry stands upon his shoulders and through Bruce’s ministry will be remembered. His life has been a testimony as a faithful leader/servant. Ready to assist, engaged to offer advice but most of all to pray with and your congregation. We will miss his cheerful laugh and his eager advice. Heaven is richer today. .
Hi Marge! It is with sadness, thanks, and deep respect that I write this. Bruce invested in my life as I first applied as a MAC worker with CBFMS in 1978, then as a long term worker and also on my ordination council. He drove me to that first meeting and continued to mentor and encourage me with love and patience.
May the Lord continue to comfort and strengthen you as you mourn the loss and celebrate Bruce’s life.
In 1984 I was a new kid in town. I had just completed seminary back East, and had started as a hospital chaplain in San Jose. Even though I was a stranger Bruce took interest in me. He helped me get through ordination, and then invited me to pastor’s retreat at Silver Spur. He also gave me a ride to the retreat several times, often in a car he had just rebuilt! Once on the way he took me to a new burger place called In-n-Out for my first time. Fond memories. I remember him, several times, saying after I’d made some observation, “Ok.” A great response when you don’t know what to say!
He really made a difference in my life.
Bruce understood what it meant to pastor a congregation “on the wrong side of the tracks.” He was one of the very few I could speak with candidly. I will be forever appreciative of the “Jesus like grace” he extended my way
Joseph Kearns here, member of Grace Baptist Church, San Leandro, Ca.
From Pastor Bruce Kofield, Pastor emeritus Harold Thomas, and many years of Pastor Bob Parma, Bruce would periodically come in his service to CBA Northern California. He was a easy going congenial fellow, and his plain spoken manner reflected a servants humility as he served us all for Jesus Christ. Peace and blessing to you his family and friends in Jesus name! Amen!
Pastor Bruce was an influencer in my life. After graduating from nurses training he challenged me about the mission field. Knowing that his father and mother were returning to Cote d’Ivoire as MAC workers to the MK school, he encouraged me to go because he knew there was a mission hospital on the field and I would travel with his parents. Due to his encouragement I went to Cote d’Ivoire and served for one year, but that year changed my focus in life and I did several more mission trips to Mexico and Ukraine. I also served as the missions chairman at my church for a number of years, motivating others to become more involved in mission. Bruce will always have a special place in my heart.
Bruce was sneaky–and I mean that in the best possible way. He influenced me in so many different ways, but what I have loved about him is that he led more by asking wise questions than by offering smart answers. I believe he had all kinds of answers, but he knew that leading others often means helping us discover for ourselves what the next steps are. He did this for me when I was serving as a youth pastor in Scotts Valley. He did it when I was starting a new church in Folsom. And he did it when I accepted the role of Executive Director of the association. Lakeside Church would not be what it is today without Bruce’s leadership in my life. In fact, I would not be who I am without his leadership and investment in my life. Thank you Bruce. God blessed me with you.
Marge, thank you for all you have done for both Donna and me. God bless you in this season and in the days ahead. We love you.
In the course of every pastor’s life, a mentor comes along to guide and to encourage that pastor to keep the faith and to fulfill their calling to which God has called them. Bruce was one of those faithful mentors in my life. Thanks Bruce. I will miss you but knowing that I will see you again brings great joy and comfort to my life.
And Marge, we will continue praying for God’s blessings on your life as you as you move forward without your beloved husband. Peggy and I both send our love to you.
In the course of every pastor’s life, a mentor comes along to guide and to encourage that pastor to keep the faith and to fulfill their calling to which God has called them. Bruce was one of those faithful mentors in my life. Thanks Bruce. I will miss you but knowing that I will see you again brings great joy and comfort to my life. And Marge, we will continue praying for God’s blessings on your life as you as you move forward without your beloved husband. Peggy and I both send our love to you.