Dennis H. Clemens, 76

Dennis Harry Clemens, 76, Bay City, died Sunday, March 6, 2011, in Bay City.

He was born Oct. 21, 1934, in Cooperstown, N.D., the son of Harry and Inga (Vangen) Clemens. He graduated from Hannaford High School in North Dakota in 1953 and married Virginia Aldorfer in Northfield, Minn., in 1955. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving 1956-1958 while stationed in Hawaii. They moved to Hampton and he worked at Armor Meats in St Paul for 25 years until it closed in 1978. They moved to Diamond Bluff in 1963 and later divorced in 1976. He then worked as a boiler engineer at St. Paul Ramsey Hospital. On Dec. 3, 1977, he married Gwyned (Foster) Dawley and they lived in Martell. He had worked at ADM in Red Wing and also at Hygienic Systems and Cochran House in Hastings.

After retirement he kept busy helping family and friends. He had a very giving heart and he loved camping, four-wheeling, and playing cards. Gwyned died Jan. 10, 2008. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Red Wing, the Bay City Harding Hall Darrington American Legion #357, the Windows Group, and his membership in the Maiden Rock AA group was very important to him as he had attained 46 years of sobriety.

Survivors include ten children, Denise (Rodney) Knowles of Menahga, Minn., Steven (Jean) Clemens, Jon (Tammy) Clemens, and Jeanine Holst, all of Diamond Bluff, Jeff Dawley of Crossville, Tenn., Trever (Christine) Dawley of Bay City, Inga (Matt) Weierke of Lakeville, Minn., Rebecca Mataya of Fultonville, N.Y., Dennis (Jolynn Clark) Clemens of Glenwood City, Wis., and Ashley (Jacob) Brown of Pepin, Wis.; 27 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three brothers, Richard (Yvonne) and Ralph Clemens, all of Welch, and Garfield (Bev) Clemens of Binford, N.D.; two sisters-in-law, Gloria Clemens of Red Wing and Monica Clemens of Hannaford, N.D.; and special friend, Virginia Simon of Red Wing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gwyned; and four brothers, Marvin, Gordon, Robert and Mahlon Clemens.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 12, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Marcus Johnson officiating. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, and for 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.

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