Wayne C. Clingman

Wayne C. Clingman, 93, of Park River and formerly of Portal, ND, passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at First Care Health Center in Park River. Wayne was born August 1, 1921, in Oelwein, Iowa. His parents were Charles and Helen (Long) Clingman. Wayne graduated from Oelwein High School in 1938. Following his graduation from high school, Wayne spent the farming season working for his uncle near Portal, North Dakota. He would return to Iowa during the winter and work at various jobs including working for Woolworth's, John Deere, and the railroad. One fall, while roller skating, Wayne met Janet Berg. A little over a year later on December 2, 1945, Wayne and Janet were married at Bowbells, North Dakota. From then until 2003 they farmed near Portal. In 2005 Wayne and Janet moved to Park River, North Dakota. Wayne served on almost countless boards and committees. He served on both the Portal and Burke Central school boards for more than 30 years. He served on the Presbyterians church board, the Soil Conservation Committee (36 years), the Burke County Improvement Association, and the Souris Basin Planning Council. When not serving on those boards or farming, Wayne enjoyed flying a plane he shared with some friends, curling, golfing, water skiing (which he last did at the age of 78), playing his trumpet and marching with the Shriner's band, and playing cards and other games with friends and relatives. Wayne loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was fond of telling each of his daughters, "You're my favorite daughter." Wayne had an unsurpassed sense of humor, but he had enough love to go around to all his children. Wayne was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Portal until he became a member of Victory Free Lutheran Church in Park River after moving to Park River. He was a Mason and belonged to various orders in the Masons. Wayne is survived by his wife, Janet; children: Suzanne (Paul) Sanchez of Belen, NM, Marcia (Glenn) Rost of Park River, ND, Charles (Robert) Clingman of Brooklyn Center, MN; Lori (Murray) East, Regina, SK; and Jodi Ayers, Arvada CO. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren; his brother, Roy Clingman of Galina, IL; and sister, Althea Lenz of Strawberry Point, Iowa. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Victory Free Lutheran Church of Park River, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery, Park River, ND.