Phyllis A. Clifton, 80, of Devils Lake, formerly of Minnewaukan and Oberon, died Sunday, August 30th , 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake.

Funeral services will be Thursday, September 3rd, 2009, 10:30 AM at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Minnewaukan with Pastor Harold Ovre officiating.  Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Maddock.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 7pm with a 7:00pm Prayer Service at the  Nelson Funeral Home in Minnewaukan.

Casket bearers will be her grandsons.  Honorary bearers will be her granddaughter and great-grandchildren.  Music will be from Deanna Hanson, organist with Claudette Carlson, soloist.

Phyllis Ann Clifton was born January 27, 1929, northeast of Maddock, ND, to John and Esther (Lalum) Stenberg.  She was raised there and attended rural school.  On August 19, 1944, Phyllis married Arnold Clifton at Devils Lake.  The couple lived on a farm near Oberon until moving into Oberon in 1957.  Through the years Phyllis worked at the Oberon Creamery, telephone office and the café.  She later owned and operated the café until the family moved to Minnewaukan in 1977.  In Minnewaukan, Phyllis worked at the Tastee Freeze and for various owners of the café.  Phyllis and Arnold moved to Devils Lake in 1998.  Arnold died April 23rd 2004.

Phyllis was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Minnewaukan and a former member of the Antelope Valley Lutheran Church and Ladies, rural Oberon.  She had also been a member of the VFW Auxiliary.  Phyllis enjoyed making lefse  and donuts each year in Grand Forks, cross stitching, embroidering  and caring for her cockatiel, George.

Phyllis is survived by:  4 daughters:  Donna (Mrs. Ronnie) Smith of Maddock,   Carolyn Harwood of Leeds, ND,   Debra (Mrs. Roy) Fairchild of Grand Forks, ND  &  Cindy (Mrs. Ken) Simon of Fargo;  5 sons:  Larry Clifton of Devils Lake,  Robert (Peg) Clifton of Carrington, ND,  Douglas (Patti) Clifton of Sheyenne, ND,  Joe (Kelli) Clifton of Minnewaukan and David (Darlene) Clifton of Grand Forks; a daughter-in-law:  Beverly Clifton of New Rockford, ND;   24 grandchildren: Todd Smith,  Denise Howell,  Susan (Jason) Graber,   Curtis, Kevin & Kiley Harwood,   Jason & Scott (Jessica) Clifton,   Jeremiah (Brenda) & Kristi Clifton,    Jared & Jena Clifton,    Tina (John) Murphy,   James (Deb) Clifton,    Tony (Gina) Clifton,  Nikki Geiszler,   Patricia (Aaron) Lura,     Michelle (Aaron) Anderson,    Jason Fairchild,   Kyle & Katie Clifton,   Alan (Erin) Moody & Lisa Moody  and Josh Simon; 33 great-grandchildren: Ashley Smith,  Cy & Hanna Dahlen,  Austin & Caden Graber,   John Michael, Joel Jr., Casey, Cassandra & Samantha Harwood,   Isaac & Anna Clifton, Jessica, James, Shania & Jonathan Murphy, Jayden Clifton,  Michael, Corbin & Gabriel Clifton,  Cassidy & Dawson Clifton,  Samantha, Cade & Tiara Lura,  Logan, Lucas & Kiara Geiszler,  Alexia & Breanna Anderson,  Justice, Gunnar & Xander  Moody;  3 sisters-in-law:  Delores Stenberg of Maddock,  Margaret Stenberg of Minot and Irene Haugen of Clovis, CA.  She was preceded in death by her parents;  husband;  son: Gerald; 3 grandsons:  Joel Harwood,  Shawn Clifton & Brett Clifton; a great-grandson: Justin Murphy and brothers:  Donald & Arland "Shorty" Stenberg.



Condolences:

Our deepest sympathy to your family on the loss of your mother. I know she'll be missed by all of you - now she's living her reward with her Lord. Barb amd Doug Steinmetz