Marie Clifford

Marie Clifford, age 105 of Grafton, ND passed away on Monday, July 12, 2010 at the Unity Medical Center of Grafton. Marie Clifford was born the twin sister of Lilly Clifford on December 25, 1904 on the family farm near Walhalla, ND, the daughter of the late Cornelias and Mary (Lang) Clifford. She attended rural schools near Leroy, ND and graduated from high school in Cavalier, ND. She later graduated from Mayville State Teachers College. Following Marie's education, she returned home to care for her parents. After their death she taught school in North Dakota and Montana. Each summer, Marie and Lilly were reunited on the family farm near Leroy, and eventually would retire to the farm. Following their retirement they enjoyed traveling, with visits to California, Arizona, Florida, New Mexico and two ocean cruises. During their later years, they would spend the summer months on the farm and winters in the larger cities such as Minot, Grand Forks, Bismarck, and later in Grafton. In 2002 they spent their last summer on the family farm. In the spring of 2003 they moved to an apartment in Grand Forks and later moved to the Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton. Marie is survived by her niece, Lucy Fitzsimonds and her family of Walhalla, ND; great niece Jeanne Nybo of Grafton, ND; several other great nieces and nephews, the children of Corrine Hoff, Louis Clifford and Walter Clifford and special friend Colleen Lykken of Grafton, ND. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Walter and Joe and sisters: Anna, Ellie and twin sister Lilly. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 10:15 A.M. at the Lutheran Sunset Home Chapel. Visitation will be Wednesday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery of Leroy, ND.