Merle Clifford "Kip" Vigness, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at Greenleaf Assisted Living in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Greg Schram officiating. Burial will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. Military honors will be provided by the Ecklund-Holmstrom American Legion Post 117, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793, and the Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, September 12, 2014 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Saturday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Cliff, as he was most known by, was born to Oscar J. and M. Josephine (Efteland) Vigness on December 22, 1920 at the home of his parents in Shelly, Minnesota. Cliff began his life in Shelly starting school there until the family moved to Halstad, MN. The family moved to Thief River Falls, MN in February of 1931, where he attended Washington Elementary School through grade six, seventh and eighth grade at Central School, and ninth grade at Lincoln High School. While in tenth grade, Cliff left school to begin working full-time at the Independent Grocery Store in Thief River Falls. Cliff was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith, living a Christian life spending much time reading or listening to Bible Scriptures, teaching Sunday School, was the Sunday School Superintendent for a period of time and belonged to Gideon Society. He led and taught his family to live their lives seeking God's plan and salvation. Cliff served on many boards at Zion Lutheran Church, sang in the church choir, was President of Kiwanis from 1989-1990 and in earlier years served as PTA President. Kip is a recently approved member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. On November 5, 1942, Cliff was called into the Army. He began at Fort Snelling, MN moving onto Fort Benning Georgia. There he took a six week course in radio operation. He served his country as Technician Fifth Grade, 410th Field Artillery 10th Armored Division in the European Theater of War in Germany, was Field Lineman in The Battle of Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe becoming Corporal T5 receiving the Good Conduct Medal serving as Communications Specialist at the front lines. Cliff was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy, WI January 11, 1946. While home on furlough, Clifford and Catherine (Anderson) were united in marriage on September 19, 1943. They purchased their first home at 615 Arnold Ave N in Thief River Falls, MN in 1947. In 1948, they moved to an apartment in Warren, MN where Cliff accepted a position at Cut-Rate Grocery for nine months before returning to their home in Thief River Falls. Cliff was hired by B & W Grocery, later known as Piggly Wiggly. His career in the grocery business took him through many phases of the grocery business. During his many years he delivered groceries, candled eggs, weighed sugar, cut cheese, scrubbed floors, set up displays, served as produce manager and worked his way to assistant manager of the store. In 1971, Cliff sought other employment working for one year at Ace Hardware, and then transferred to Midland Co-op as store manager until 1982. Cliff took a correspondence course in Locksmithing as an interested hobby in the mid 1960's. After studying two years and taking a final examination, he became a Certified Locksmith. He received approval by the neighborhood and zoning by the City Council to open a business in his home. Cliff continued to study until he became a Bonded Locksmith. Later space was rented on Atlantic Ave. He expanded the business. In 1975, son Charles came into the business, both Certified Bonded Locksmith's; they shared a very successful business known as "Kip and Chuck's Lock and Key". Cliff later sold the business to Chuck, enjoying full-time retirement. Cliff enjoyed handyman work, woodworking, traveling and camping with his wife. Cliff is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Catherine, daughters Sharon Peterson and Cathy (Dan) Rominski, and son Charles "Chuck" (Wanda) Vigness. Grandchildren, Todd (Michelle) Peterson, Troy (April) Peterson, Shawn (Beth) Rominski, Tawnya (Deon) Wawrzyniak, Alicia and Sarah Vigness and Kendra (Mitchell) Martin. Great-Grandchildren, Brittany, Christopher, Ashley, Joshua and Jeremy Peterson, Emma, Mason and Henry Rominski, Nikolas, Addysen, Josie and Kynzlie Wawrzyniak. Brother Lester Vigness, and nephews, Jon (Rhonda), David, Jim (Jody) and Dan (Deb) Vigness and also Jon (Jan) Anton. Preceding him in death were his parents, Oscar and Josephine Vigness, sister Myrtle Vigness, sisters-in-law Lois Vigness and Dorothy Anton, brothers-in-law Hans Anton, Donald Anderson and William "Billy" Anderson, niece Nancy (Vigness) Hoyhtya and son-in-law Roger R. Peterson.