Clarence Edinger

April 12, 1920-April 28, 2008


Clarence Edinger, age 88, of Turtle Lake, ND, died Monday, April 28, 2008, at Community Memorial Hospital in Turtle Lake.


Clarence Raymond Edinger was born April 12, 1920, at New Rockford, ND, the son of Jacob and Julia (Reichenberger) Edinger. At a young age, he moved with his family to Benedict, ND, where he attended rural school. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on Feb. 21, 1942, and served in the Philippines during World War II. He was honorably discharged on September 12, 1945. He returned to Turtle Lake for a short time before moving to Oregon, where he was employed as a logger/lumberjack.


He married Viola Helm on June 5, 1948, in Aumsville, OR. They made their home in Oregon for 1 1/2 years before returning to Turtle Lake. Clarence worked on the construction phase of the Garrison Dam and was employed with the Turtle Lake Creamery for several years. Clarence went to work for the Lake Farm Store (John Deere dealership) in Turtle Lake, where he repaired and delivered farm machinery until his retirement in the mid-1980s.


He and Viola spent their retirement years living in Turtle Lake and enjoyed gardening, dancing, bowling and playing pinochle. Clarence also enjoyed hunting and was considered an avid fisherman. He spent many long days fishing the waters of Lake Audubon. He was a past member of the Turtle Lake Fire Department and served as Fire Chief for several years. Clarence was a 50-year member and past commander of the American Legion Post #133 of Turtle Lake.


He became a resident of the Community Memorial Hospital swing-bed unit in 2004. Clarence’s family would like to extend special thanks to the hospital staff for their kind and caring support.


He is survived by: one daughter, Patty (Jerry) Johnson of Spokane, WA; three sons, Dennis (Sandy) Edinger of Bismarck, ND, Raymond (Diana) Edinger of Turtle Lake and Gary Edinger of Turtle Lake; four grandchildren, Stacey (Mitch) Lang and Sara Edinger of Bismarck, Kevin Johnson of San Jose, CA, and Kendall Johnson of Spokane; four great-grandchildren, Shannon Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Connor Lang and Kameren Johnson; three sisters, Lily Moseng of Benedict, ND, Sylvia Leitner and Lorraine Willoughby of Minot, ND; two brothers, Vernon (Darlene) Edinger of Turtle Lake and Arnold Edinger of Mandan, ND.


Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Viola, who passed in January 2000; his daughter, Sharon Freuer; parents, Jacob and Julia; his infant twin sister, Martha, sisters, Elsie Berg, Frieda Ficher, Edna Duerre and Esther Bauer; infant brother, Samuel, and brother, Eldien.


Funeral service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2008, in United Methodist Church, Turtle Lake, with the Rev. Galen Kauffman officiating.


Interment: Turtle Lake Cemetery.


Military Rites will be provided by the Turtle Lake American Legion Post #133.


Visitation: 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Goetz Funeral Home, Turtle Lake, and Saturday, one hour prior to the time of service, at the church.


Provide condolences and sign the guestbook at (goetz funeralhomes.com).


(Goetz Funeral Home, Turtle Lake)