Clifford Raymond Runningen

Clifford Raymond Runningen, 91, a resident of Pelican Rapids, MN, was called home on June 18, 2014, from the Pioneercare in Fergus Falls, MN.Clifford Raymond Runningen was born August 4, 1922 in Columbus, ND to Christian and Anna (Rude) Runningen. He grew up in Columbus and attended school through the eighth grade. At the age of 16 his family moved back to Pelican Rapids, MN where he helped his father farm.On November 26, 1944 he was married to Myrna Erickson in Pelican Rapids, MN. He entered the US Army in 1945. Upon his return from military service in Germany he started doing carpentry work with Korey Ebeson in Pelican Rapids. Gilman Resset started a new construction crew and asked Clifford to work with him which he did until his retirement when he continued to do small carpentry jobs on his own. Some of the projects Clifford worked on were the construction of Pelican Drug; he helped pour the base for Pelican Pete, helped with the concrete bases for the Rotary suspension bridge, Pelican Rapids V.F.W., several homes in Pelican Rapids, and many lake homes in the Pelican Rapids area. He was an accomplished finish carpenter and was always very proud of his cabinetry work. Clifford was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Pelican Rapids V.F.W. Post #5252. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, playing cards and spending time with family and especially his grandchildren.Clifford is survived by his two sons, Tom of Pelican Rapids, MN and Wayne (Melanie) of Pelican Rapids, MN; 4 grandchildren: Mya (Ben) Nicholls, Ria Runningen, Beau Runningen and Megan (Todd) Langseth; 5 great-grandchildren: Tegan, Taya, and Tate Nicholls, Taylor and Levi Langseth; brothers-in-law: Ernest Kollar, Randy (Pat) Erickson, Don Erickson, Amos Erickson, Earnest (Shirley) Erickson; sister-in-law Delores (Alfred "Freddy") Haugrud, and many nieces and nephewsHe was preceded in death by his wife Myrna, his parents Christian and Anna, brothers Marvin, Oliver, Donald, and Christian Jr., sisters Selma Wick, Clara Haarstad (Dunham), Annette Haiby and Lottie Kollar.Visitation: Visitation is one hour prior to the service at the church.Service: 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2014, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.Burial: Pelican Valley Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.Clergy: Pastor Paul Nelson and Intern Pastor Lucas Ladnier Funeral Home:Larson Funeral Home304 3rd Street S.E.Pelican Rapids, MNUS 56572