Arvid Clementson

Arvid "Clem" Clementson, age 81, of Fosston, MN and current Mayor of the City of Fosston, passed away on Thursday (October 12th) at First Care Hospital in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (October 17th) at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. John Dalen officiating. Interment will be in Kingo Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Monday (October 16th) and for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday, all at Kingo Lutheran Church. Military honors will be conducted by the Tangen-Walstrom American Legion Post #114 of Fosston and the Spring Lake V.F.W. Post #2759 of Lengby. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston. Sympathy messages may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com. Arvid Newton Clementson was born to parents Joseph and Nellie (Gandrud) Clementson on February 21, 1925 in Fosston, MN. As a child he attended schools in Erskine and Fosston and graduated with the Fosston High School class of 1942. In 1943 he enlisted in the United States Armed Forces and served as a Sergeant in World War II through 1946. After his honorable discharge, he attended Moorhead State College and later joined his father and brother in Clementson & Sons Construction.On March 18, 1950 Arvid was joined in marriage to Alene Naastad. To this union, five children were born: Bonnie, Dean, Nancy, Joseph and Jennifer. Arvid & Alene raised their family in Fosston, except for two years when the construction business brought them to Texas. Arvid owned and operated Clem's Corner Café in Fosston in the early 1960's. He was employed as a U.S. Postal Service employee for several years until he became a sales representative for Oxford Chemicals in 1973, serving northwestern MN and eastern ND. His sales career continued when he formed his own company, Clem's Chemicals, which he continued to operate to the present.Arvid is most likely best remembered for his years of public service. In 1962 he was elected to the Fosston City Council and served for one term. He was elected as Fosston's Mayor in 1966 and served through 1976. He ran again for Mayor in 1984 and has served in that capacity to the present. Arvid was also active in the DFL Party serving in various delegate and volunteer capacities. He held membership in several civic organizations including being a Charter member of the Fosston Rotary Club and a Charter and Lifetime member of the Fosston Community Club. Arvid was passionate about Fosston. He believed in the community and what its residents could achieve. He believed in what people working together could do to "get the job done". Arvid recognized the efforts of volunteers in the community who made Fosston a great city, including those involved in Fosston Senior Meals, Fosston Civic Center, the Fosston Library and Arts Center addition, Embassy Center, East Polk Heritage Center and most recently, the Berge-Stafford Park Coalition Project.In 1996 he initiated the Fosston All-America City project, which received national recognition that year through the combined efforts of an enthusiastic team of volunteers. He was awarded the League of Minnesota Cities C.C. Ludwig Award in 1997 for his leadership role in local government. In his tireless effort to promote Fosston, he created the "Cordwood Pete" legend, which has generated a statewide interest for tourism. He recently published his second edition of the "Adventures of Cordwood Pete" which are stories that combine legend and reality. Proceeds from his Cordwood Pete activities were designed to support local tourism activities including Fosston's Annual Heritage Days. Arvid was an oil portrait and landscape artist. He received notoriety in the 1960's for his political portraits, including recognition from Jacqueline B. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Hubert H. Humphrey among others. He was a commercial sign painter and many of his signs are seen throughout Fosston. Arvid's family brought great joy to his life. Family traditions - including lutefisk for Christmas - meant so much to him. In addition to time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren Arvid cherished celebrations with his large family network.Arvid Clementson died on October 12, 2006 at the age of 81 years seven months and twenty-one days. His son Dean; parents Joe and Nellie; brothers John and Willard; sisters Marian and Joanne preceded him in death.He is survived by his wife Alene of Fosston; daughters Bonnie (Mike) Stewart of Fosston, Nancy Raguse of Wheaton, MN, Jennifer Harris (Jeff Thompson) of Phoenix, AZ; son, Joe (Sandy) Clementson of Staten Island, NY. Grandchildren, Maggie, Ted, Andrew, and Ryan Stewart; Lou, Betsy and Carly Raguse. Sister, Norma Dillenburg of Grand Forks, ND; sisters-in-law, Edna Mae Clementson of Clarkston, WA and Minette Naastad of Fosston; brothers-in-law Hayden Thompson of Denver, CO and Les (Ethel) Naastad of Lengby, MN. Nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.Active Pallbearers are his grandchildren, Maggie Stewart, Lou Raguse, Betsy Raguse, Ted Stewart, Carly Raguse, Andrew Stewart, Ryan Stewart.Honorary Pallbearers are City of Fosston Employees & Officials and Arvid's many friends and colleagues.