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Clarice "Reese" J. Willem, 63, of Hillman, passed away Sunday, November 4, 2007, at her home.

Clarice Joyce DePonty was born July 21, 1944, in St. Paul, Minn., the daughter of Clarence and Gertrude (Diers) DePonty. She grew up in St. Paul and graduated from St. Paul Johnson High School, Class of 1962.

She was united in marriage to Bruce Willem in July 1962. The couple lived in a number of places in Minnesota including, Marine on St. Croix, for three years, Montevideo for two and a half years, Forest Lake for three years and Harris from 1973 to 2003 where they lived on a farm. In 2003, they moved to Sullivan Lake in Morrison County.

Clarice worked various jobs during her lifetime and got to know and work with many wonderful people. She enjoyed fishing, traveling, camping, farming, the Hillman Red Hats Group and attended Immanuel Lutheran Church, north of Hillman.

Clarice is survived by her husband, Bruce, of rural Hillman; mother, Gertrude Bartley, of Plainview, Minn.; daughters: Tami (David) Kost, of Rush City, Minn., and Penny Willem, of North Branch, Minn.; sisters: Jackie (Jim) Pederson, of Plainview, Minn., and Kathy Dittle, of Ortonville, Minn.; four grandchildren: Amber Koecher and Anika Kost, both of Rush City, Minn., Jessica Koecher, of North Branch, Minn., and Christopher Koecher, of Hillman, Minn., and a great-grandson, Jaiden Koecher, of Rush City, Minn.

Clarice is preceded in death by her father Clarence DePonty, and brother Fred DePonty.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, November 8, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Hillman, Minn., with Rev. Cathie Rhodes officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Private interment will take place at a later date. Arrangements by Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz, Minn.

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