Clare Lunde

Clare ‘Sonny’ Lee Lunde

Clare was born on the family farm in rural Polk County Wisc, to Martin and Hulda Lunde on April 18, 1928. He was the youngest of five children with three older brothers, Willy, Ervin, Buddy and one sister, Olive. His mother died when Clare was only 9, so his sister Olive stepped in to help raise him.

As a young man, Clare worked at a vegetable canning factory, then with a surveying company. Clare was drafted into the army for the Korean War, but was stationed in Germany. He continued to learn surveying and eventually worked in surveying and artillary for the duration of the war in Germany. After his Army service he came to the Twin Cities and continued working as a land surveyor. He worked as a surveyor for SEH Engineering. Clare even fell through the ice one winter on the St. Croix River while at work. He pulled himself out, went home for some dry clothes, then went back to work. He was honored for his dedication to SEH one year for his 45 years of service to the same company,

He met, then married Rosita Viola Ferber on October 31 1958 and raised two sons, Steve and Greg. They resided in St. Paul for the majority of their marriage. He lost his wife of 38 years in October 1996, and then lost his youngest son, Greg, in 2004. Clare has 3 grandchildren Cassie, Anna and Solomon. He also has 2 great-grandchildren Devin and Joshua.

Clare loved the outdoors. He loved fishing in the summer, bow hunting in the fall and ice fishing in the winter. He also liked playing cribbage and walked daily to the McDonald's on Rice Street to play cribbage with a group of retired men when still living in St Paul. Clare also loved walking and easily walked miles daily. After moving in with Steve and Patty in 2003, he would walk a 4 mile round trip to the local cafe for breakfast daily until he slipped on the ice and fractured his elbow. Clare was very practical and knew the value of a penny. He would always try to fix something instead of replacing it. He found hotdogs 2 for $1.00 at Holiday gas station to be a great meal.

He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in St Paul from 1967 until he moved in with Steve and Patty several years ago. While living with Steve and Patty he began coming to Maranatha Assembly of God, where he was usually the first one in the car on Sunday mornings waiting to go to church.

Clare went home to be with the Lord on Friday, March 12, while resting very peacefully in his own bedroom at home. His last comments were how much he loved Jesus and how he just wanted to go to him.

Clare will be sadly missed by all who knew him.


Funeral service 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 15, 2010 at Maranatha Assembly of God, 24799 Forest Blvd.  Visitation one hour prior to service at the church.  Interment at North Valley Cemetery in Milltown, Wisconsin.  Memorials may be made to the family and sent in care of Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN  55025.