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Clarence Smith, age 95 of Chisago City, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at his residence on September 4, 2016.  Clarence was born December 4, 1920 in McGregor, Minnesota to parents Martin and Elizabeth Smith.  

At the age of three, the family moved to Automba.  He lived there until the 5th grade and then moved to Barnum.  He graduated from Barnum High School in 1938.  After graduation he worked as a deckhand and then helmsman steering the boat on all the Great Lakes except for Lake Ontario.  

Clarence ended up in Connecticut in the Merchant Marine School of the U.S. Coast Guard in the spring of 1944.  During his service years, he served in Italy and in the Pacific, transporting invasion equipment.  Plans were to go to Japan but instead went to Manilla, Philippines and picked up Japanese prisoners of war and took them back to Yokohama.  He was discharged from the service in January of 1946.

Clarence married Verla Smith on December 18, 1943.  To this union was born one daughter and two sons.  
After service discharge, Clarence and family lived in Barnum for a few months, Wyoming, Minnesota for one year, and then bought the farm near Chisago City where he still resided at the time of his death.  

During the time at Chisago City, he milked about 20 dairy cows and also worked as a carpenter.  After selling the cows he bought a livestock route and hauled to South St. Paul for about 23 years.  At this time he also raised feeder pigs.  He sold his cattle route in 1982 just after his wife Verla died.

Clarence and Verla traveled to Germany, took many snowmobile trips, as well as other travels in the U.S.  After Verla’s death, Clarence continued to travel with a special friend Gerrie Drewlo, and other family and friends, to many national parks and other points of interest in the U.S.

Some activities Clarence enjoyed were moose hunting in Canada, and also took horses to go mule deer hunting in the Pryor Mountains in Montana.  Even in his early 80’s, he took a snowmobile trip with 3 of his grandsons to Gooding, Idaho.

Clarence delighted in his grandchildren and was especially proud of the great grandchildren.  He felt so fortunate to be a part of their lives.  Clarence appreciated all his friends and neighbors who were so kind to him over the years.
He is preceded in death by wife Verla; sons Randy and Douglas, grandson Connor Buehring; siblings John Smith, Minnie Peterson, George Smith, Mildred Smith, and Florence Armbruster; and other relatives.
 
Clarence is survived by daughter Diane Buehring; 10 Grandchildren Chad (Lynn) Buehring, Brandon (Erin) Buehring, Justin (Sabrina) Buehring, Shauna (John) Offer, Blake (Ashley) Buehring, Tina (Mike) Savage, Tanya Gibson, Jason Smith, Joshua Smith, and Sarah (Rick) Purcell; 13 great grandchildren Katelyn Buehring, Madyson Bombard, Paige Bombard, Zoey Buehring, Austin Buehring, Hunter Offer, Peyton Offer, Tanner Offer, Charlie Buehring, Colby Buehring, Eaun Smith, Caleb Smith, and Kiah Smith; special friend Gerrie Drewlo; and many other relatives andfriends.  

Funeral Service 2 p.m. Sunday, September 11, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City.  Visitation one hour prior to the service at church.  Interment at Chisago Memorial Park.  Arrangements by the Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom.  Condolences may be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com

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