Michael Clemens

Michael Raymond Clemens, 77, of Jamestown, passed away at 5:50 P.M., February 11, 2026, at Bethany on 42 Nursing Home, Fargo. He was born October 19, 1948, at Jamestown Hospital, to Frank Raymond and Gertrude Geraldine (Winberg) Clemens.

Michael is survived by one son, Donald Clemens, Fargo; a stepson, Derrick Anderson, Marathon, Wisconsin; his former spouse, Darla Storbeck, Marathon, Wisconsin; five siblings, Marlys (James) Alexander Wangen, Mountain Home, Texas; Patti (Larry) Peterson, Northfield, Minnesota; Thomas (Dianne) Clemens, Normal, Illinois; Frank (Phyllis) Clemens, Jamestown; and Jack (Cindy) Clemens, Jamestown; seven nephews; and four nieces. Preceding him in death was his parents in 2006 and 2010, respectively.

Michael, known to everyone as Mike, was raised in Jamestown, attending Lincoln and Washington Elementary Schools and Jamestown Junior High School, and graduating from Jamestown High School in 1966. During his school years, especially during the summers, he often worked with his father as a mason, laying concrete blocks and bricks, plastering and stuccoing houses. He was also an avid bowler and pool player, working part-time at the former subterranean bowling alley and pool hall on Second Street Northwest, known as “The Ditch.”

After high school, he attended Jamestown College for a few months before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1967. Following basic training, he served on the U.S.S. Enterprise, an aircraft carrier, which at one point during the Vietnam War experienced a bomb on the deck exploding and taking out five levels of decking below the site of the explosion. Michael, who had been working in a cooling duct, was knocked unconscious and initially was reported to his parents via the phone as “missing.” Fortunately, he was found alive after two days and along with a company of his shipmates was sent to Hawaii for “rest and relaxation” for a month. Upon return to active duty, he fulfilled his military service in the waters off the coast of Vietnam. 

After four years in the U.S. Navy, Mike returned to Jamestown and served in the Naval National Guard until transferred to the North Dakota National Guard. He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

At times, he worked again with his father part-time while attending Jamestown College. He graduated in 1977 a degree in History and Religion-Philosophy. During his final years at the College, he was a Jamestown College Fellow in Religion, an achievement of which he was rightfully proud. At the time, he also considered the ministry, and for several years committed himself to the study of Christianity and the Bible. Over three years, he was asked to fill in behind the pulpit at a number of churches in Jamestown during pastor vacations and professional absences.

He considered pursuing a degree in divinity and becoming a full-time pastor, but instead he began working at the Grafton State School. That soon led to a position at the State Hospital in Jamestown where he found meaningful relationships with the clients, eventually becoming director of the Vocational Workshop program. He also enrolled in a master’s program in counseling at Moorhead State University but did not complete his thesis due to work and family responsibilities in Jamestown. He and Darla Storbeck were married in 1979, and Donald was born in 1980. 

Mike was a lover of cats and provided a home for Shadow, Meowser, Ginger, and Bear.  He also fed feral cats and provided housing for them, especially during the winter. He attended family reunions and enjoyed seeing all his nieces and nephews and in turn his great nieces and great nephews. He hosted a barbeque for family members every year at his house on 10th Avenue Southeast. 

His smile and quirky sense of humor will be missed. His siblings and in-laws will miss the prolonged arguments about religion, politics, and the state of the world. At family gatherings and reunions, there will always be an empty chair set out for our absent Mike.

Services will be held at 1 PM, Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Haut Funeral Home, Jamestown. Military honors will follow immediately after the service by the United States Navy and the Jamestown American Legion. No inurnment is planned.

The livestream of the service can be viewed here - https://hautfuneralhome.livecontrol.tv/c88ec91b