Clarence O. Swanson, 82, died on Friday, September 13, 2002 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A. M. on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 at the Black River Lutheran Church, rural St. Hilaire, MN with Reverend Arlen Hermodson officiating. Burial will be in Black River Cemetery, Polk Centre Township, Pennington County, MN.

Visitation will be from 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at the Johnson-Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service on Tuesday evening and at the church for one hour prior to services on Wednesday.

Clarence Oscar Swanson was born on January 17, 1920 to John Oscar and Dorathea (Schneider) Swanson in Bray Township, Pennington County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian Faith at Black River Lutheran Church. He attended District 180, a rural school in the area.

Clarence was drafted in the Army on April 29, 1942. On July 1, 1942, he landed in Dutch Harbor in Aleutian Islands and was put in the Michigan National Guard, coast artillery light unit. He returned in 1944 after seeing most of the Aleutians to the west end and was in army camps after coming home. He served in El Paso, Texas, Fort Riley Kansas and was Honorably Discharged from Camp Gruber, Oklahoma on November 11, 1945.

Clarence was united in marriage to Norma Hanson on October 23, 1948 at the Presbyterian Church in Plummer, MN. He was a lifetime grain and dairy farmer from 1946 until retiring in 1985.

He was a lifetime member of Black River Lutheran Church, life member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion and Eagles. Clarence was also a member of the North America Hunting Club and National Rifle Association. He served on the church board, St. Hilaire Creamery board, ASCS board in 1975, Township Supervisor for many years, Township Assessor, on the DHIA board and taught Sunday School for two years.

In 1979 Clarence was Pennington County Conservation Farmer and in 1980 he received the Honored Dairymens Award. Clarence and Norma were selected Pennington County Farmer and Homemaker in 1982.

Clarence is survived by his wife, Norma of St. Hilaire, MN; eight children: Curtis (Marilyn) Swanson and Gloria (Godfred) Svir, all of Thief River Falls, MN, Betty (Dale) Schantzen of New Town, ND, Lyle (Joni) Swanson and Mark (Virginia) Swanson, all of Thief River Falls, MN, Larry Swanson of Fairbanks, Alaska, James (Karla) Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN and Pam (Jay) Brekke of Menomonie, WI; 22 grandchildren: Lisa, Leslie, Jonathan, Jason, Bradley, Brenda, Steven, Christopher, Jordan, Jennifer, Jared, Jonelle, Cody, Brandi, Larry Jr., Todd, Clarence (CJ), Logan, Kyle, Jeremy, Stephanie and Derek; one great granddaughter, Madison; one brother, Wilbert (Carol) Swanson of Mechanicsburg, PA; special family member, Irene Scholin of Arizona; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, James (Jamie) Michael Swanson, II; three sisters: Dorothy Tatro , Gertrude Kemstad and an infant sister, Ruth Swanson.