Clara Loorence, 95, Minot, formerly of Sawyer, died Sunday, February 24, 2013, in an assisted living center.
Clara was born May 17, 1917 south of Wheelock, ND in Brooklyn Township to Ivar and Julia (Skotte) Grothe. She was educated at Brooklyn Consolidated School graduating with the high school class of 1936.
Clara was united in marriage to Karmet Loorence on October 26, 1940, in Sidney, MT. They made their home in Washburn, ND and Tacoma, WA for five years, returning to North Dakota following WWII. For the next 65 years, they called the community of Sawyer home. Karmet died on March 1, 2002. Clara became a resident of Edgewood Vista in Minot in 2011.
Throughout the years she assisted families in Minot and Williston with child care and household chores. She also worked as a part-time banquet server at the International Inn and Eagle's Aerie and Elks Club of Minot.
Clara was a member of Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva and its quilter's club and ladies aide. She served as a secretary for her church circle and was involved in the Sawyer Election Board, participating in the general, primary and school elections as an inspector for a number of years. She was a member of the Women of the Moose and Eagle's Aerie, Sawyer and Velva Senior Citizen's Groups, Sons of Norway, XYZ and Christian Women.
Her hobbies included card playing, quilting, solitaire, word find puzzles, cooking and baking. She was often found at the Hstfest enjoying a concert or visiting with friends and sampling all the Norwegian food. She will be missed by all who called her mom, grandma, great-grandma and friend.
Her loving family includes a daughter, Julianne Bonner, Minot; grandchildren, Tori (Monty) Schaefer, Carrington, Jon (Shannon) Bonner, Madison, SD and Theresa (David) Held, Fargo, ND; 7 great-grandchildren, Andrew, Jack and Benjamin Schaefer, Olivia and Rachel Bonner and Maya and Makenna Held and a niece, Kathy Grothe and nephews, Ronald and John Grothe, all of Denver.
Clara was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Karmet and brothers, Hjalmar and Siver Grothe.
Funeral: 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2013, at Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva
Interment: Sawyer Community Cemetery, Sawyer, ND in the Spring of 2013
Visitation: Thursday, February 28, 2013, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Sawyer Community Cemetery, Oak Valley Lutheran Church or to an organization of the donor's choice.