Clarence Okerson, 98, of Velva, ND, formerly of rural Coleharbor, ND, died May 4, 2016 at the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 AM Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Turtle Lake with Pastor Randy Emgarten officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 PM in Bethel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Coleharbor, ND.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Monday and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake.

Clarence was born August 21, 1917 at the C.G. Okerson homestead near Coleharbor to C.G. (Carl) Gustav and Minnie (Erickson) Okerson. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church, Coleharbor. He attended rural Malcolm #1 school from grades one through eight. Clarence started farming with his dad when he was a young man. After his marriage to Blanche Nelson on April 13, 1946 they moved to the farm that he farmed until the age of 87. He quit farming when he couldn't finish filling his drill with his bushel basket.

Clarence enjoyed going to dances in barns and at city halls. He loved to polka and waltz. Clarence was always willing to help out a stranded motorist in the Lake Audubon area, it didn't matter whether it was snow, mud, day or night. It was at no charge to a total stranger. There were times when Blanche didn't know if he would come home again. He was always ready to volunteer for his church, family, friends and neighbors.

He served as a director for the McLean County Mutual Insurance Company, Turtle Lake Hospital Board, Garrison Farmers Union Oil Company, and the Garrison Elevator Board. He was also board member of the Bethel Lutheran Church Council and Cemetery Board as well as a board member of the Malcolm School District.

Clarence and his wife Blanche retired from farming in 2005. They continued to make their home on the farm until moving to Valley View Manor of Velva in November 2007. Clarence later entered the Souris Valley Care Center where he resided until his passing.

He is survived by his three daughters & sons-in-law, Jerrilyn (Wally) Johnson of Butte, ND, Genelle (Rich) Vollmert of Georgetown, TX, & Karen (Bob) Voth of Benedict, ND; seven grandchildren, Lance (Carlie) Voth, Dustin (Yolanda) Voth, Travis (Kelly) Voth, Tyler (Rena) Johnson, Cole Johnson, Jennifer Vollmert, & Quinn (Cristina) Vollmert; five great-grandchildren, Gavin Voth, Emeril Voth, Leeland Voth, Thaddeus Voth, & Jocelyn Minnie Irene Voth; two step-grandchildren, Sharian Johnson & Beth (Ron) Pigeon, Jr.; two step-great grandchildren, Amber & Megan Pigeon; two sisters-in-law, Violette Okerson of Turtle Lake, & Lorraine Zwicker of Bismarck; brother-in-law, G.G. Henne of Minot; one brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law, Merlin & Violet Nelson of Bismarck, Ruth Nathan of Turtle Lake, & Mary Ann Nelson of Green Bay, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents, his wife (Blanche), one son (Larry Okerson), great grandson (Jake Voth), brothers & sisters-in-law; (Myrtle & Arnold Hanson, Eleanor & Ralph Keel, Evelyn & Earl Keel, Florence & Elmer Zwicker, Anna & Elmer Keel, LaVerne (Arnold) Schumaier, Mildred Henne, Harold & Martha Okerson, Ervin Okerson); brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law on Blanche's side (Orval Nelson, Richard Nathan, Neil & Dorothy Nelson, Donnell & Virginia Nelson, Frances & Walter Bastian, Eunice Bradford & her husbands Irv Bauer and Milton Bradford, Maureen & Bob Hochsprung).

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor's choice – St. Olaf Memorial Fund, Bethel Lutheran Cemetery Fund, Camp of the Cross, Buckstop Junction/Bethel Lutheran Church Restorative Fund, or Souris Valley Care Center/Valley View Manor of Velva.

Clarence's family would like to thank the staff of Valley View Manor and Souris Valley Care Center for the excellent care given to Clarence while he was a resident.