Clarice Cramer
May 24, 1941 ~ April 24, 2021
The service will be live streamed via the facebook page link provided by Kindred Lutheran shortly before her service on Saturday: https://www.facebook.com/kindredlutheranchurch
Clarice Cramer died at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo, ND on April 24, 2021 after living gracefully with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Clarice was born May 24, 1941 at Brinsmade, ND, to the late Melvin and Olga (Ness) Hjelden of Minnewaukan. Growing up in a large family on a small farm, Clarice learned the value of hard work and strong faith; characteristics she demonstrated her entire life.
She attended school in Benson County and graduated from Minnewaukan High School in May of 1959. On June 11, 1960, she married Richard Cramer from nearby Cando and remained united with him until his death in 2015.
The Cramers lived in Rolla, ND where the first four of their five children were born before moving to Seattle, WA in 1966 where they lived just long enough to have one more baby. Clarice often said the city and the mountains made her feel claustrophobic, so they returned to North Dakota, settling in Kindred where she lived until moving into Villa Maria in 2020.
While raising five children and managing the household, she took many temporary and part time jobs including cleaning houses, pumping gas at Cenex, waiting tables and providing care at nursing facilities and in people’s homes. For many years she prepared and served meals at Kindred School. Every job she took reflected her gifts of hospitality, compassion, and encouragement.
When she was not working at home or at a job, she spent many hours volunteering throughout the community, including serving on the Kindred City Council. Her love for Christ and His Church provided countless opportunities for her to exercise her servant’s heart. She attended and hosted several Bible Studies. Perhaps her greatest act of service was hosting Kindred High School athletes for caramel rolls and prayer breakfast in her home on Friday mornings throughout the school year and opening her heart and house for Child Evangelism Fellowship gatherings.
As much as she enjoyed young people, she loved her senior friends too. She contributed countless hours of her time and hundreds of gallons of gas, driving widows and friends around rural Cass and Richland Counties, stopping at any facility serving ice cream. She regularly took what Dad called, “her old lady friends,” shopping in Fargo.
Clarice is survived by her five children, Kevin (Kris) Cramer, Bismarck, Gevaine (Doug) Hilsen, Fargo, Ricky (Jodi) Cramer, Fargo, Randy (Lisa) Cramer, Horace, Jenalle (Steve) Groth, Fargo, two sisters Mavis Overby, and Ardis (Curtis) Christianson, four brothers, Rodney (Diane) Hjelden, Jerry Hjelden, David (Mary) Hjelden, Jim (Audrey) Hjelden. She leaves 14 grandchildren, Ian, Rachel, Annie, Abel, Sara, Andrew, Alex, Brice, Stephanie, Laura, Scott, Gregory, Kayla, Patrick and 14 great grandchildren, Lyla, Beau, Chet, Nico, Willa, Grace, Ben, Keelin, Harper, Reese, Claire, Calvin, Ella, and one on the way.
Clarice was preceded in death by her parents and husband Richard, two sisters, Janice Bonn and Joyce Greene, and one brother Myron Hjelden and a grandson, Isaac Cramer. A “crowd of witnesses” is welcoming her Home as we celebrate a life well lived.
Memorials preferred to Kindred Youth Baseball Association.
Celebration of Clarice’s Life: 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Kindred Lutheran Church, Kindred, ND with visitation starting at 10:00 A.M. The service will be live streamed on Boulger Funeral Home’s website.
Clarice's Video Tribute can be viewed below:
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Sorry to hear about Clarice. We send our prayers and sympathy to all of the families.
Sending deepest condolences to all of you at this sad time. May the memories of Clarice be a blessing and bring peace. ❤️Ruth (Vangerud ) Brass
My Sympathy and prayers Go with you. Clarice will be missed. God bless all of you.
So sorry for your loss
My sympathies for the family of cousin Clarice.
Kevin and Kris, I am so sorry for your loss.
Our deepest sympathies in your loss. She was an amazing woman and Kindred 15 member
Thoughts and prayers for her family.
Sending many thoughts and prayers to Claire’s family. My family is still trying to process such a huge loss. Claire was such a beautiful person, a wonderful aunt, and dear friend. She will be dearly missed. Our Prayers, Jim, Rhonda, Laura, Jolleen, Natasha
I will miss you Aunt Claire and your beautiful, loving spirit God bless!!!
Our “DEEPEST” sympathy to her families,, so SAD to lose a Loved one. Prayers for all!! Ron & June Hjelden
Our heartfelt condolences to the Cramer family.
Our sympathy goes out to all of Clarice’s family . We enjoyed Rich and Charice’s friendship , especially when our children were growing up. Through the years we drifted apart but we will always remember the good times we had with them… RIP Clarice….
Such a nice lady. Our prayers and sympathy to all the family.
Clarice became a good friend. i would visit with her different times when she and Richard would attend Bethel church and then was able to visit a lot with her during our weekly Bible Studies. We both really liked the Bible Studies by Dr. David Jeremiah. We talked often about how we missed her, not being able to be with us. We are sorry that she had to leave us too soon. Blessed be her memory.
We extend our sincere sympathy to all the family of Clarice. Our strongest memories of Clarice are of how proud she was of each of her children. Her role as mother was a treasured role that was visible to all. Also Clarice’s faith was so strong and obvious. We knew her for such a short time when we lived in Kindred, but truly we have great memories of her strength–her strong love for her family and for God. We also liked how she had the quick smile with each greeting and interaction. She was kind and good to people. Celebrating her life and impact is good. You have our prayers!
Our condolence to the entire Clarice’s family. I can imagine the lord’s outreached arms welcoming her home saying, ‘” A job well done my servant, welcome home.”
Our condolence to the entire Clarice’s family. I can imagine the Lord’s arms out reached welcoming her home saying , “A job well done my servant.”
I can only imagine the joy in Heaven as Clarice arrived there on April 24, and I’m certain she heard Jesus say to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21). Clarice was my first friend in Kindred when my family moved here 19 years ago. She invited me to a Bible study in her home with other young moms. Clarice and I were co-leaders in Awana in the Kindred area, and over the years, she never failed to encourage me in my relationship with Christ. Clarice loved and served Jesus wholeheartedly, and she will be greatly missed. Praying that her family will experience the peace of Jesus that passes all understanding and comfort only He can give. With much love, Jen Guzik
What an incredible life Clarice had ! She was a blessing to her family and community.
My sympathies to Clarice’s family. Clarice and I shared a discussion group one year, at BSF. What a neat lady. She was just the gentlest soul and it was so fun getting to know her for this brief year. She really impressed upon me how much she loved & cherished her family, especially her kids. She was so proud of them & all of their accomplishments & how she prayed for them. So, a lovely lady got to go home to the Lord. What a blessing.
Clarice, a lover of all things good. A lover of country music and the biggest lover of her Family. I know you were welcomed in heaven just as you were welcomed at Villa Marie….Jane
I served Clarice morning snack breakfast lunch n afternoon snack. She loved her coffee and visiting with the other ladies. Loved to always have country music playing. Very kind and sweet woman. Im so sorry for your loss. She will be so missed!!