Gertrude Clemens

Gertrude G. Clemens passed away Sunday, December 5, 2010 at Eventide at Hi Acres Nursing Home, Jamestown, ND, surrounded by family. She was 96 years old.
She was born Gertrude Geraldine Winberg on January 27, 1914 on the Smith Farm, Cathy, ND, daughter of Leda I. (Evans) and John A. Winberg. At the age of 2, Gertrude and the family moved to her paternal grandparents' homestead in Green Valley, northwest of Eldridge, ND where she and her siblings were raised. Gertrude attended Thom Country School through grade nine; she then attended Eldridge High School. Her senior year she attended Jamestown High School, graduating with the class of 1932. She then entered Mrs. Matchie's Business School while working for board and room. Gertrude graduated being highly proficient in math skills and shorthand. Employment was hard to find during the thirties, so she held a variety of different positions, including housework and care of the ill. Eventually she expanded her horizons and relocated to Seattle, Washington to seek employment. Gertrude met and married her first husband, Andreus Alexander; she later divorced. She returned to Jamestown from Seattle in 1945 with her daughter Marlys, for family support. Gertrude married Frank R. Clemens on January 17, 1947 at the Stutsman County Courthouse, Jamestown, ND. Gertrude performed all the bookkeeping duties for forty years for her husband's masonry business. Frank and Gertrude celebrated sixty years of marriage together before Frank passed away in August 2006 at the age of 95. Gertrude worked as a nursing assistant at the North Dakota State Hospital, retiring in 1982 at age 68, after twenty-two years of service. She was a resident at Eventide at Hi Acres since May 31, 2000.
Gertrude had a passion for knowledge. She never tired of learning. She was an avid reader and book collector. A good game of cards or Boggle was high on her list of fun. Gertrude was a natural cook--bread, buns and apple pie being among her specialties. She was an excellent seamstress, crocheter, knitter, and darner and she loved doing them all. She had beautiful penmanship and penned hundreds of letters. Gertrude was close to nature, had a green thumb and loved gardening, especially flowers. She was a member of the American Veterans Auxiliary for many years. She was always proud of her Swedish Heritage. Gertrude loved her family and hosted many delicious Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. She was always there if beckoned by any family member. During her later years she loved any family social gathering she could attend. Family was most important to Gertrude. She was a kind, caring, helpful, non-judgmental person. Gertrude was loved by her family and will be truly missed.
Gertrude is survived by 2 daughters-Marlys Alexander (Jim) Wangen, TX, and Patricia Lee (Larry) Peterson, Jamestown, ND; 4 sons-Michael Raymond Clemens, Jamestown, ND, Thomas Edward (Dianne) Clemens, Normal, IL, Frank Roland (Phyllis) Clemens, Jamestown, ND, and John Alex ‘Jack' (Cindy) Clemens, Jamestown, ND; 12 grandchildren-Angela Wangen, Brooklyn Center, MN, James II (Monika) Wangen, Mannheim, Germany, Stephanie (Toby) Differding, Fargo, ND, Auralie (Jerad) Simi, Farmington, MN, Edward Peterson, Portage, MI, Donald Clemens, Fargo, ND, Erika Vadis, San Diego, CA, Alex (Claire) Clemens, Madison, WI, Frank Clemens III, Fargo, ND, Shane Clemens, Fargo, ND, Trevor Clemens and Lucas Clemens, Jamestown, ND; 6 great-grandchildren-Hailee, Hannah, and Callee Differding, James III and Alena Wangen, and Elianna Simi; 2 sisters-June Slete, Kent, WA, and Betty (Ed) Tweeddale, Blaine, WA; 1 brother-William (Mary) Winberg, Moorhead, MN; and in Gertrude's own words, "My best friend in the whole world!"-Gertrude Peterson, Jamestown, ND.
Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank, an infant brother, brothers Robert and John Jr., and a sister, Marjorie Michael.
Prayer service will be at 7:00pm, Friday, December 10, 2010 at Haut Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, ND. Funeral service will be at 1:30pm, Saturday, December 11, 2010 at Haut Funeral Chapel in Jamestown with Pastor Bryce Tahran officiating. The interment will be made at the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Jamestown, ND.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Frank and Gertrude Clemens Scholarship Fund at Jamestown College, Jamestown, ND.