Clara S. Thompson

Clara Syneva "Dowie" (Momerak) Thompson, age 103, passed away peacefully on July 9th, 2015 at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton. She was born on May 21, 1912, in Grygla, Minnesota to Evald (EK) and Alma Momerak. When Clara was only 6 years old, her mother passed away from the epidemic. Her father then married Doris about a year later. Clara was 15 when she met T. Howard Thompson and knew he was the man of her life. They were married in 1930 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hoople, ND. They lived in Grafton all their life where they raised their 3 children, Carol Jean, Betty Jo and Duane. Howard passed away Oct. 11, 1990 and Duane passed away February 7, 2010. Clara had many jobs outside the home besides being a homemaker. She worked at Jack's Grocery and Deaconess Hospital. They wintered in Florida for 3 months each year for Howard's job with the ND Seed Department. They spent their summers at the lake fishing and camping. Clara was a very practical, down to earth person. She had a wonderful sense of humor and always fun to be with. She was dearly loved by everyone and her family had a special name for her, "Dowie", which was a nickname given by her oldest grandson, Kevin Misialek. Clara worked many hours making quilts at the church and for her family. She loved to play bingo and cards. She was always known for her delicious doughnuts, buns and lefse. She was a member of the Grafton Lutheran Church and has been a resident of the Lutheran Sunset Home since May of 2011. There was a celebration of her 100th birthday on May 21st, 2012. Clara was preceded in death, by her parents, step-mother, husband, son Duane, her grandson Kevin Misialek, her daughter-in-law Jenny, her son-in-law Raymond Misialek and her 3 sisters, Agnes Stenso, Edna Svare , and Lorna Douville. She leaves behind her two daughters Carol (Dale) Griffin, Lufkin, TX, and Betty Jo Misialek of Grafton, ND, her daughter-in-law, Marge Thompson, Torrance, California, Seven of her eight grandchildren, Katherine Maffei, TX; Melanie Griffin, TX; Kirk (Nancy) Misialek, East Grand Forks, MN; Kyle (Sonia) Misialek, Grafton, ND; Kory (Tracy) Misialek, Grafton, ND; eighteen great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren with one on the way. Memorial services will be Monday, July 13, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at the Grafton Lutheran Church of Grafton. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery.