Clifford Smorstad

Clifford Smorstad, age 96, of Decorah died Sunday, July 13, 2014 at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah. A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, July 19 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, Decorah, with Rev. Stacey Nalean - Carlson officiating. Interment was in Pontoppidan Cemetery, Decorah.
Clifford Julian Smorstad was born May 24, 1918, the son of Carl and Alma (Hill) Smorstad, in rural Decorah. Clifford grew up near Frankville and then on a family farm in Glenwood Township. Clifford attended the Sheggrud School, rural Decorah. He was well known for many decades for his portable sawmill that he took to many areas in a hundred-mile radius of Decorah. He also ran a land improvement business that involved building ponds, terraces, waterways, and clearing of brush and trees.
Clifford married Dagny Myrtle Sandbeck September 11, 1945 at the Glenwood Lutheran Church and they had four children, Darlene, Dianne, Donna and Dean. After Dagny died, Clifford then was united in marriage to Hazel Forde Ottney December 31, 1970 at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church.
Clifford was proud of his Norwegian heritage, speaking Norwegian, and he enjoyed eating potatoes, ludefisk and lefse. He enjoyed traveling, with a trip to Norway and Germany in 1973. Clifford loved to dance to polkas; often working hard all day long sawing and threshing and then going out to dance. He enjoyed going to the Mabel Hesper Steam Engine Days and to the Waukon Sawing and Threshing Days, as well as many other celebrations in the area. Clifford served as janitor of the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church from 1997-2007. Clifford was a member of the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, the Sons of Norway, and I.O.O.F. Winneshiek Lodge #58.
Clifford is survived by three daughters, Darlene (Ronald) Emery of Decorah, Dianne Burke of Decorah and Donna (Richard) Bentley of Minneapolis, MN; one son, Dean (Mary Jean) Smorstad of Cedar Rapids; two step-daughters, Nina (Jim) LaPorte of Edinburg, TX and Marvel Tomczak of Jefferson, WI; one step-son, Ed (Barb Esler) Ottney of Decorah; his grandchildren, Nicolle Smith, Brandy (Robert) Moore, Kelly (Philip) Dotzler, Travis Smorstad, Heidi (fiancé Xavier Moore) Smorstad, Chelsea Smorstad and Derek Smorstad, Carl Magnusson, Clayton (Brianna) Burke, Briana Burke, Neil (Alison) Bentley and Angela (Mark) Schwarze; along with many great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nephews, nieces, and great-nieces and nephews.
Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Alma (Hill) Smorstad; his first wife, Dagny Myrtle Sanbeck Smorstad, November 30, 1968; his second wife, Hazel Forde Ottney Smorstad, November 11, 2008; his brother, Harris (Audrey) Smorstad; and a step-son, Lyle Ottney.
Casketbearers were Travis Smorstad, Derek Smorstad, Mason Smith, Wesly Smith, Carl Magnusson, Clayton Burke, Neil Bentley, Jesse Moore, Lucas Bentley and Logan Smith. Arrangements were entrusted to Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.