Clarence Staska, age 83, of Mahnomen, MN, died Thursday, December 31, 2009 in the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home, Mahnomen.

Clarence Roy Staska was born November 30, 1926 to Roy and Emma (Paul) Staska in Rosedale Township near Mahnomen. He attended country school at the Rosedale Town Hall for eight years and then attended Mahnomen High School where he graduated in 1945.

He married Priscilla Simon on October 19, 1948 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Waubun, MN. The two met at a dance and continued their enjoyment for dancing at the Knights of Columbus Hall and other venues for many years. They farmed in the Mahnomen and Waubun area for a few years before establishing their own farmstead in 1952 on a plot of land near Mahnomen. There they raised their family of seven children and lived for more than 53 years. Clarence and Priscilla retired from farming in 1987, but they continued living on the farm until 2005 when they moved into a house in Mahnomen.

Clarence was an avid fisherman and hunter who loved spending time outdoors. He enjoyed fishing with his wife Priscilla, family and friends in Canada, North and South Dakota and many area lakes. Every year, he looked forward to deer hunting with his sons, grandsons, and other family and friends near Bemidji. He hunted elk in Idaho and also hunted locally for ducks, geese and pheasants. Clarence and Priscilla also loved to travel. They traveled throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and Canada. In 1992, they spent a month in Australia. His other interests included reading about history, playing baseball, watching the Minnesota Twins, woodworking, and creating devices to make farm life easier.

Clarence was a member of and held offices in many organizations. He was an officer and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Mahnomen Council #2573, a Farmer's Union local officer, a Farm Bureau local officer, and a Farm Home Administration board member. He was also a lifetime member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beaulieu.

Clarence is survived by his wife of 61 years, Priscilla; seven children: Howard, Prior Lake, MN, Robert (Leah), Savage, MN, Linda (Jerry) Snobl, Dixon, MO, Kathy Warnert, Pacific Grove, CA, Marlene (Randy) Hoeft, Maplewood, MN, Jim (Katie), St. Cloud, MN and Rhonda (Tony) Zurn, Little Canada, MN; 15 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; one sister Betty Swanson, Minneapolis, MN, and one brother Marvin (Mary) Staska, Mahnomen. Clarence was preceded in death by his parents.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Beaulieu. Visitation will be held Monday, January 4th from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm followed by a KC Rosary at the Anderson~MattsonFuneral Home in Mahnomen. Burial will take place at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Beaulieu.

In lieu of flowers, family prefers memorials to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Beaulieu, St. Joseph's Cemetery Fund, or National Kidney Foundation.