Clifton Odegard

Clifton M. Odegard, 97, passed away on October 4, 2011, at Garden Terrace of Overland Park, Overland Park, Kansas. He was born December 16, 1913, to Louis and Inger Odegard at Buxton, North Dakota. He grew up in the Buxton area and was baptized and confirmed in the Grue Lutheran Church and attended a one room rural school. He graduated from Buxton High School in 1931. He met LaVerne Virginia Loing and were married October 21, 1939 at the Rosendahl Lutheran Church near Reynolds, North Dakota. They had celebrated 70 years of marriage prior to her death in 2010. Clifton was a lifelong farmer in the Buxton area until his retirement in 1979. Following his retirement he and LaVerne moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota. He and LaVerne enjoyed many weekends at their Minnesota lake home where extended family often gathered. They traveled to visit family and friends in many locations in the United States and Europe. In 2001 they moved to Twin Oaks Retirement Center in Lansing, KS to be close to their family. Clifton was a firm believer in the cooperative philosophy of accomplishing a task or reaching a goal. One of his greatest attributes was his deep concern for his fellowman. Although actively engaged in farming, Clifton participated in numerous cooperative and community organizations. He devoted much time to the Nodak Rural Electric Cooperative. He served on the Nodak Rural Electric Board of Directors for 36 years holding all the offices of the Board. He was elected to represent the State of North Dakota as a Director on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Washington, D.C. He served in this capacity from 1965 through 1967. He served as Nodak's representative on the Minnkota Power Cooperative Board of Directors from 1965 to 1975. In 1983, he was recognized by the North Dakota State Association of Rural Electric Cooperative as a recipient of the Rural Electric Cooperative Leadership Award. Clifton considered cooperatives an extension of the farm and if you tend to them carefully you will reap their benefits. He was appointed by the Governor of North Dakota to serve on the Judicial Conduct Commission. This citizen commission investigated complaints against judges and conducted hearings concerning the discipline, removal and retirement of a judge. He served on the Farmers Union Elevator Company Board of Directors for 24 years and served as Stavanger Township Clerk and on the Traill County Soil Conservation Committee. Clifton was very active in the Grue Lutheran Church rural Buxton where he served in various capacities and directed the church choir for over 20 years. He found a lot of enjoyment from participating in numerous musical endeavors. He sang in a male quartet, a men's chorus and sang as a soloist at many events. In his younger years he played in a dance band called the "Dakota Playboys". Clifton is survived by his daughter, Phyllis Ann Smith of Leavenworth, KS. Three grandchildren, Eric (Vicki) Smith, Topeka, KS., Allison (David) Johnson, Overland Park, KS. and Ross Smith Loretta Dobyn)of Joplin, MO. Other survivors include four great grandchildren, Alexander, Mackenzie and Christina Johnson, Edward Smith and many nieces and nephews. Clifton was preceded in death by his parents, wife, LaVerne, son-in-law LTC.Ray V. Smith, two brothers, Orlando and Ernest and sister Viola Olson. Memorials may be given to the Grue Lutheran Church and/or Grue Cemetery Fund or the charity of your choice. Funeral services: 2:00 pm Saturday October 15, 2011 at Grue Lutheran Church at Buxton, ND. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. on Friday October14, 2011 at Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks,ND Interment: will be in Grue Lutheran Cemetery, Buxton.