October 26, 1927 – Sunday, September 7, 2014
Service Information
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church-Buffalo
Friday, September 12, 2014
11:00 A.M.
Visitation Information
AT THE CHURCH
Friday, September 12, 2014
10-11 A.M.
Harold (Hal) Jay Clifton Sr., age 86, of Buffalo,MN made his final cast on September 7, 2014.
Hal was born in Steubenville, Ohio on October 26, 1927 to William H. and Doris M. (LaVine) Clifton. He honorably served his country in WWII enlisting at 16 as a Seabee stationed in the Pacific Theater on Guam. He married Beverly J. Rux on October 16, 1954. Their marriage was blessed with 3 children, Hal Jr. Benny, and Jo. He devoted his life to his family and tried to be the best possible husband, dad, brother, grandpa, and friend. He began his career in Buffalo working for Odin and Jean Melgard at King Gas Company. He then obtained his insurance licensure and worked for Mutual Service Insurance out of his home office for many years. After his insurance career, he along with his wife Bev entered the food service industry. First, managing Buffalo Heights golf course followed by Hals Club. When looking for Hal, if he wasn’t at work, home, or attending one of his kids activities rest assured he could be found down along the shores of Buffalo Lake. Countless hours were spent throwing spoons and crank baits doing what he loved, all the while sporting his signature cigar. His later years found him fulfilled running cars for local dealers, morning coffee with the guys, and family gatherings. He cherished time with family and spent many an hour sharing stories with his grandkids (many times the same story more than once) earning him their beloved nickname “The Legend”.
Hal leaves behind his children Hal Jr., Benny (Toni), and Jo. Grandchildren Rachelle, Zachary, Mackenzie, and Victoria Clifton, Louis and Edward Clifton, Joshua (Marla) Friesen, Charlie and Casey Druar. Step grandchildren Daniel, Hope, and Adam Braatz and Kelly Cinquegrani. Sisters Dolly Boyd and Rena (Lloyd) Westphal, brother Dan (Shirley) Clifton, sister in law Sharon Hagen plus countless other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife Beverly, parents William and Doris Clifton, brothers Henry, Bill, and Butch, sister Jean Dickenson, brother in law Curt Hagen, and son in law Mark Braatz.
A memorial service will be held on Friday September, 12th at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at St Johns Lutheran Church, Buffalo, MN.
The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo, MN assisted the family with arrangements.
To the Family of Harold Jay Clifton Sr.;
Having been in your situation before, I wanted to express my deepest sympathy and concern for you and also share with you the wonderful hope for our dead loved ones. As you grieve Harold’s death, please take some time to investigate and reflect on the hope in question, which comes from the Maker of all things, Jehovah God. How would you do that you may wonder? Well through his word the Bible, God not only promises to eliminate death once and for all one day but he also promises to bring those we have lost to death over the years back to life again with the opportunity to live forever right here on earth, which will be restored into a paradise where SICKNESS, VIOLENCE, WAR, OLD AGE etc…will no longer exist.
These facts can be verified in your own copy of the Bible in the privacy of your homes when you read Scriptures like: (Isaiah 25: 8), (John 5: 28 and 29), (1 Corinthians 15:26), (Revelation 21:3 and 4), (Isaiah 33:24), (Ps 37: 9-11 and 29), (Psalms 46: 8 and 9), (Job: 33:25) which can comfort you in your sorrow. After reading these Scriptures, if you wish to learn more wonderful truths from the Bible, please visit http://www.jw.org , which will show you where to go in your Bible to find reliable answers to life big questions such as: what is the purpose of life? What really happen to us when we die?
May you be comforted by the cited Scriptures, which give us hope for a wonderful future in God’s upcoming new and righteous world!(Matthew 19:28-30); (2 Peter 3:13, 14)
To my dear cousins; So sorry to read about your loss. Rena and Dan; My family memories are a precious thing to me. You are all in my prayers. God Bless. Love, Alta
Rena and family;
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
To the Clifton family;
I am so sorry to hear of Hal’s passing. He was a kind and gentle man that will be missed by all. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Clifton Family, I am so sorry on the passing of your father. How hard it must be to first lose one parent and then the other, but how wonderful for them – a great love – they could not live without each other! God Bless You All!
I offer you my deepest sympathies at the passing of your father. May God’s peace heal your hearts and my you smile often as you recall cherished memories.