Clara Sanford

Clara Victoria (Otteson) Sanford, age 91, formerly of Austin, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Peaceful Bliss Memory Care Center in Alexandria, Minnesota where she had been a resident since October 2009. Clara was born August 4, 1919 in Badger, Iowa to Charles and Mette Marie (Jensen) Otteson. The family moved when she was a small child to Evan, Minnesota and then to Nevis, Minnesota, where she attended elementary school and graduated from high school in 1936. She completed a two-year teacher preparation program in Park Rapids and taught in Hubbard County rural schools. Clara married Hugh Sanford on June 18, 1940 and the couple moved to Austin, Minnesota. During WWII, daughters Georgia and Sharon were born. When Hugh entered the Navy, the couple sold their Austin home, and Clara and the girls returned to Nevis to live with the Ottesons while Clara again taught school. After the war, the family returned to Austin and Hugh was reemployed at the Hormel Company. Clara was also employed at Hormel's for ten years where she made many friends. Clara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a sixty year member of the First United Methodist Church of Austin where she kept attendance records and served as secretary-treasurer of her women's fellowship circle. Clara loved music. She had a lovely singing voice and played both the piano and violin by ear. She also loved playing cards with her many friends at the Oaks where she moved to in later years. Survivors include two daughters, Georgia (John) Merchant, Los Alamitos, CA, Sharon (Larry) Smith, Alexandria; four grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; sister, Elaine Reinartz, Longville; sister-in-law, Teresa Otteson, Staples; 25 nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hugh on December 15, 1979; three brothers. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Pat Toschak officiating. Friends may call one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery.

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