Thief River Falls - Clara Longevan, 87, died Tuesday, March 30, 1999 at her home in Silverton township of Pennington county.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 2 at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Thief River Falls, with Reverend Robert Dahlen officiating. Grace Hammer was the organist and soloist. Casketbearers were Elwood Tieman, John Hammer, Howard Henrickson, Gerald Sanders, Maurice Stenseth and C.W. Hruby. Burial was in Germantown Cemetery in Grand Plain township of Marshall county. The Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Clara Knutson was born on April 25, 1911 in Kratka township of Pennington county, the daughter of Sam and Sarah (Bjoland) Knutson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended country school in Kratka township. In 1929 she graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls. After high school she attended nurses training in Crookston before transferring to Miller Hospital and University Hospital in Minneapolis where she graduated in 1933 as a registered nurse. Clara returned to Thief River Falls to work at Oakland Park Sanitarium.
On November 16, 1935 she was united in marriage to Melvin Longevan at Mavie. The couple made their home in Silverton township where they farmed. Melvin died in 1963. Clara stayed at home to raise their children and later returned to work at Oakland Park Nursing Home, retiring in 1975. Clara continued to make her home on the farm.
She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church where she was active in Ladies Aid. She enjoyed her home and visiting with family and friends over coffee.
Clara is survived by one son, Donald Longevan of Thief River Falls; one daughter, Yvonne (Wayne) Hove of Hillsboro, ND; one granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Ingvald, Knute, Harold and Norman in infancy; and three sisters, Anna, Laura and Lottie. A00003B1999AR07