Clifford Oftelie

Clifford Navel "Cliff" Oftelie, 87, of Crookston, MN, died peacefully early Saturday morning, March 22, 2014, at the Villa St. Vincent in Crookston. Cliff was born at Fargo, ND on November 13, 1926, the oldest of five sons of the union of Knute and Helen (Classen) Oftelie. He came with his parents to Crookston as an infant, and received his education at the Lincoln School. Cliff enlisted in the United State Marine Corps in 1945 and served stateside at Parris Island, SC, Camp Lejeune, NC, and Washington, DC. On April 12, 1947 he was united in marriage to Verleth Hattie Finneman at St. Olaf's Catholic Church in Minneapolis. The couple made their home in Crookston until 1950 when they moved to Puyallup, WA. Cliff was employed there for a few years before the family returned to Crookston in 1953. He worked as a self-employed contractor and painter until retiring in 1988, and gained a solid reputation as an honest, trustworthy man, and a very hard worker. Cliff was a 52-year member of Crookston's Nels T. Wold American Legion Post #20, and a former member of Eagles Aerie 873 and the Sons of Norway Morgensol Lodge. He was a history buff; enjoyed going to farm sales and finding collectibles; loved being outdoors; and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Cliff also had a hobby farm near Mentor, where he and Verleth would spend time. He would get to drive his 1942 Ford tractor around, and together they would tend the garden. Cliff was a wonderful husband to Verleth, and always took care of his family. He will be very sadly missed. Cliff leaves his beloved wife, Verleth, a resident of the Villa St. Vincent in Crookston; son, Clifford Oftelie Jr. of Detroit Lakes, MN; daughters, Sandi Oftelie and Carole (Gaylord) Christle of Moorhead, MN; 4 grandchildren: Eric Swenson of Raleigh, NC, Shannon Wollertson of Wichita, KS, Ashley Wollertson of Ft. Myers, FL, and Matthew Oftelie of Detroit Lakes, MN; 4 great-grandchildren: Kyler, Dillon, Beth, and Bailey; 2 sisters-in-law, Doris Oftelie of Huntington Beach, CA and Judy Oftelie of Maple Lake, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Knute and Helen; and his 4 brothers: Burton, James, Gerald "Jerry", and Larry. Blessed be Cliff's memory. The funeral service for Clifford Oftelie will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston with The Rev. Jo Gast, officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral. Military Honors will be provided by the Crookston Veterans Council and interment will be in the Oakdale Cemetery, Crookston, later this spring.



Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

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Visitation
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

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