Cliffy was born 6 - 19 - 1935 to Bud and Jo Gullickson in Big Sandy, Montana. He went to school and graduated from High School in Big Sandy. Cliffy was the second child, he has an older sister Betty and a younger sister Gaynell, How would one best describe him? He was your best friend, that special Uncle and the best Grandfather a kid could wish for,

Cliffy married Doris Matthews in 1953. They have four children: Lynette Pam born 1 - 7 -1954, Nancy Jo born 2 - 5 - 1956, Gary Matthew born 4 - 3 -1950,Greg Alan born 4 - 8 - 1963. Cliffy was a devoted husband and father, not to mention friend. He lived life to it's fullest, he'd hoist a beer ina toast to his friends, now it's our turn. This Michelob's for you Cliffy!

Cliffy was on his way to toen with a load of wheat when he fell asleep and the truck rolled afterhe over corrected several times on August 8, 1999, just 8 miles out of Big Sandy, Montana. He did not suffer and that is one of ther few things we who feel the loss can have a bit of comfort in.. Cliffy's funeral service was held Thursday August 12, 1999 at Christ Lutheren Church in Big Sandy, attended by over 600 people. He was laid to rest n the Big Sandy Cemetery..

A harvest of friendship

"When everyone got here this morning I sunk to my knees because I couldn't believe it."      -- A grateful Gary Gullickson, son of the late Cliff Gullickson

[Original Article by Kim Skornogoski, Great Falls Tribune Staff Writer] It took 100 people, 25 combines and 25 grain trucks four hours to harvest the Gullickson family's 1,100 acres of wheat, a job that weighed heavily on Gary Gullickson's shoulders following the death of his father, Cliff.

In August 1951, Marvin Works, then 19, gathered in a field with dozens of other Big Sandy and Loma area farmers to harvest the Gullicksons' wheat.     Doris Gullickson's brother had died and the community rallied to help the traumatized family.     This August, Doris and the Gullickson family were hit by a second tragedy--her husband Cliff fell asleep while driving a grain truck to Big Sandy and was killed when the truck rolled over.     And again Works and nearly 100 others brought 25 combines and 25 grain trucks Wednesday to harvest the Gullickson's 1,100 acres.     "It's a community," Works said. "When there's a tragedy you just jump in to help, no debate."     The job took four hours, with everyone gathering in the final 170 acres to finish the job together.     "It was a tremendous amount of pressure lifted from my shoulders," said Cliff's son, Gary Gullickson, 39.

"Things got turned upside down and backwards and then we had to try to deal with the everyday.     "When everyone got here this morning I sunk to my knees because I couldn't believe it."     About 600 people attended Cliff Gullickson's funeral Thursday, cramming into a church equipped for half that many.     His death rocked the Big Sandy community.     "In a town this small something like this has a big effect on people," said Dave Berg, 64.     Berg grew up with Cliff Gullickson. They played football together and drank beer together.     "He was my best friend from when I was this tall to last Sunday," Berg said.     "He and I graduated from Big Sandy school the same year -- we did everything together."     Looking out at the puffs of dust billowing behind the combines and trucks circling the Gullickson's golden fields, Berg shakes his head and smiles.     "This is just awesome."     The event began with a few phone calls.     Don Jenkins, who was on the wrestling team with Gary Gullickson, lives on the northeast border of the Gullickson's farm.

He started by calling farmers in the immediate area, but soon people were calling him to see if they could help.     "It started out being 10 people donating what they could," Jenkins said. "Every combine you see here was working their own fields this morning. They put their work on hold to help out."     Driving from every direction as far as 50 miles away, the farmers arrived at 10:30 a.m. and began the day with a prayer for their safety and for Cliff.     Cliff's children -- Lynette Ereaux of Malta, Nancy Erickson of Havre, Gary of Big Sandy and Greg Gullickson of Missoula -- made 60 red and turquoise hats for the volunteers sporting the words "Cliffy's Harvesting Crew, August 18, 1999."     The hats quickly replaced the farmers' worn caps and the Gullicksons had requests for more.     At 3 p.m., the sweaty and grimy volunteers leaned on pickup trucks, gulping down Bud Light and swapping memories of the football games they should have won.     "This is what you do when there's a tragedy," Jenkins explained, lifting his cap off his forehead to cool down.     "This is their bread and butter. This is their livelihood sitting out in this field."