Clayton Orlando Holen, 91, Minot, and formerly of Fargo, died Wednesday, April 28, 2010, in a Minot nursing home.
Clayton was born June 6, 1918, on the family farm near Max to Louis and Elna (Sander) Holen. He was reared on the family farm and educated in rural schools in that area prior to moving to Minot in 1934, where he finished his schooling. As a young adult, he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1936 to 1939.
Clayton married Bessie Newman on March 23, 1940, in Minot. They made their home in Minot, where he was employed as a machinist's helper by the Great Northern Railroad from 1942 to 1956, except for the time he spent from 1944-1945 as a member of the Army in Europe.
In addition, he served as the maintenance engineer of Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, for 15 years prior to his employment by the General Services Administration of the federal government as a maintenance engineer of their buildings in Fargo from 1970 until his retirement. He returned to Minot in 1981 following his retirement. Bessie died on Sept. 24, 1994. Clayton had been a resident of Trinity Homes in Minot for the past two years.
Clayton was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, where he was a member of the Men's Club and served as an usher and Luther League counselor. He was a member of the Eagles Aerie, United Transportation Union, Minot Curling Club, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He especially enjoyed bowling, curling and hunting pheasants.
Clayton's surviving family includes: his children, Janice Lorentzen, of Bismarck, Sharon (Larry) Healton, of Wichita Falls, Texas, and David Holen, of Denver; grandchildren, Alynn Terry, Leslie Healton and Michelle Lorentzen; great-grandchildren, Kristen Martin and Alexes Healton; great-great-grandchildren, Erin and Madison Riley; sisters, Luella Kriedeman, of Seattle, and Erma Kriedeman and Mardine Galusha, both of Minot; brother, Norman Holen, of San Pedro, Calif.; a very special niece, Phoebe Haugeberg, of Minot; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Clayton was preceded in death by his parents; wife; sisters, Verona Schaffer and Diane Bower; and brothers, Lawrence, Morgan, Richmond and Wilfred; granddaughter, Lisa Lorentzen; as well as an infant brother and sister.
Funeral service: Monday, May 3, 2010, at 1 p.m. in Zion Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: Sunday, May 2, from noon to 5 p.m., in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to Trinity Hospice, Minot.
Those wanting to sign the online memorial register or share memories and condolences are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).
