Funeral services for Clara Ericsson, age 93, of Lemmon, will be 2:00pm Monday, November 13, at the Prairie Hills Church of God in Lemmon. Pastor Steve Thomas and Pastor Arlan Swanson will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon.


A family service will be held at 11:00am on Monday at the Prairie Hills Church of God.


Special music will be provided by Pat Peterson, organist. Raeann Haigt will sing "I Must Tell Jesus" and Pastor Arlan Swanson will sing "Peace in the Valley." The Congregation will sing "In the Sweet By and By" and "Amazing Grace."


Serving as casketbearers are Mitchel, Darrel, Dean, and Larry Ellison; LeRoy, Raymond, Bill, Warren, Calvin, Jerry, and David Ericsson; and Bob Wallace. All friends and relatives are considered honorary bearers.


CLARA CAROLINA ELLISON was born November 16, 1912 in a sod house in Grant County, ND north of Thunder Hawk. She was the sixth of eleven children born to Paul and Agda (Lindgren) Ellison. Clara attended Schrader School #2 near the Ellison homestead. She was united in marriage to Marvin Leonard Ericsson on November 12, 1932 at McIntosh, SD. During the depression, Clara and Marvin lived in the Pacific Northwest for 7 years. In the early 1940's, they returned to Grant County, ND and began farming north of Thunder Hawk. While her family was attending school in Lemmon, Clara began working as a nurse's aide in 1955 at Five Counties Hospital and Nursing Home. Her husband Marvin passed away on May 17, 1966. Clara continued to raise her family in Lemmon and work as a nurse's aide until her retirement in the mid 1980's.


Clara was an artist and was proud to have been chosen to display her artwork in the Governors Mansion and at the North Dakota State Capitol. Even at age 93, she lived independently, loved to fish, and was an avid gardener. She was a lady of prayer and a faithful member of the Church of God since July 26, 1936. She was a selfless giving friend to all she knew.


Clara passed from this life on Wednesday evening, November 8, at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.


Surviving family members include her 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Joanne and Norman Hammer, Pacific, WA; Wilma and Steve Oyler, Crescent City, CA; 1 son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Gail Ericsson, Sturgis, SD; 8 grandchildren, Deborah Peterson, Greg Hammer, Brett Ericsson, Brenda Laurenti, Sherry Hall, Sheilah Cleveland, Mark Branton, Lori Lesina; 12 great grandchildren, Cole Peterson, Brent Hammer, Clara Hammer, Theresa Mahlen, Tiffany Mahlen, Gianna Marie Laurenti, Tyson Cleveland, Chelsea Marlin, Stephanie Kucek, Sarah Branton, Shauna Lesina, Bailey Lesina; 3 great great grandchildren; Rylen Cleveland, Trent Cleveland, and Mikala Marlin; 1 sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Larry Herrle, Pacific, WA; 2 sisters-in-law, Martha Paulson, Lemmon, SD; Sally Ericsson, Spokane, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Clara was preceded in death by her parents, 6 brothers, John, Edward, Martin, Herbert, Melvin, and Clarence; 3 sisters, Gladys Wallace, Mayme Dokken, and Alice Ericsson; and a grandson, Norman Hammer Jr.


A memorial has been established.