Clifford Oliver Bevolden, 86 of Fertile, MN died Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at Riverview Hospital, Crookston, MN, surrounded by his family.
Cliff was born to Norwegian immigrants, Austin and Clara (Voje) Bevolden, on May 26, 1923 at Harlem, Montana. They lived 9 miles from Hogeland, MT; where he attended 1st-8th grade Wing Country School. Cliff road horse to school every day. He lived with his sister, Myrtle, and her husband Fred Woepple and attended Hogeland High School. He played football and basketball and was a star BB player for the Hogeland Hawks. He graduated in 1941, and worked for area farmers until he was drafted into the United States Army on September 3, 1943. Boot Camp was at Camp Fannin, TX and Cliff shipped out to New Guinea and the Philippines. He belonged to the Red Arrow 32nd Division where he was in fierce fighting against the Japanese. His goal was to find his brother, Chester, who was a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. Cliff was in Japan for three months and then honorably discharged January 18, 1946.
After the war, Cliff returned to Hogeland and became the janitor at the school. In the evenings he was on a basketball league, playing the game he loved. In the summer of 1946, he met Eileen Stusrud at a church picnic and they were married on October 12, 1946. In 1948, they moved to rural Gary and along with his brother, Palmer, began farming. In 1967, Cliff, Eileen and the girls moved into Fertile. At that time Cliff began working for the Fertile Creamery Association, delivering milk products and grinding feed. In 1987, he bought the business, renaming it "Cliff's Creamery"and continued being Fertile's "milk man". He retired in 1991, selling his business to his son-in-law Marlen.
Cliff was a member of Resurrection Free Lutheran Church, Beltrami and Fertile American Legion.
Known and loved by many as "Cliff" or "Cliffy", he will be fondly remembered as a quiet and easy going man who had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, playing cards, the Minnesota Twins, a good waltz and taking vacations with Eileen. Through the years he was blessed to watch his grandchildren in various activities, from danceline, wrestling, football, volleyball, baseball, basketball, motocross and car racing. No matter the activity Grandpa was in the stands. On rare occasions, when he wasn't able to attend, even the coaches wondered where he was. He commented many times "I wish I would have kept track of all the miles I traveled following the grandkids."
Through the years he left a legacy of unconditional love to his family and his presence will be greatly missed.
Those who survive Cliff are his wife, Eileen, Fertile, MN; five daughters: Sylvia Piche, Audubon, MN, Elaine Bevolden, Sherry (Marlen) Jensrud, Darlene (Dale) Solie and Carole (Darrell) Larson all of Fertile; 15 grandchildren: Renae (Ken) Olexa, Scott (Lisa) Piche, Joshua Bakken, Caleb Bakken, Alesia (Jonathan) Bakken, Gary (Melissa) Jensrud, Jennifer (Travis) Stene, Jeremy Solie, Ryan Solie, Candice Solie, Jodi (Grant) Woytiuk, Jordan Solie, Lee Larson, Amy (Ryan) Olson, and Joel Larson. 10 great-grandchildren: Abby Kleingartner, Chloe Olexa, Danielle and Jakob Piche, Isaiah, Jonas and Evan Jensrud, Ava and Ian Stene, James Woytiuk, two sisters: Mildred (Ron) Swenson, Chinook MT,and Hazel Cichosz Great Falls MT; two brothers: Leroy (Aileen) Bevolden, Billings MT, Lyle Bevolden Havre, MT; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Clarence, Martin, Chester, and Palmer, a sister, Myrtle Woepple, and grandson, Mark Piche.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at the Resurrection Free Church, Beltrami, MN at 10:00 AM.
Visitation will be on Friday, January 8, 2010, from 5-7 pm in the Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, Fertile, Mn.
Burial will be in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.

Erikson-Vik Funeral Home Fertile, MN