Clara O. Aarthun

Clara Orlanda Aarthun joyfully rose to join the heavenly host on December 23, 2014 having spent the last four years at Eventide, Linden Tree Circle, Moorhead. She was born on the family farm in Burke County to homesteaders Ole and Caroline Rykken on July 2, 1917.

It was on the farm she loved that Clara learned to persevere and where a strong faith in God was nurtured. The farmstead was first destroyed by a tornado, then by a fire and finally survived the depression years; each time being rebuilt by the family. She was set to go to Nursing School when the national banking system collapsed. She was proud of her daughter, Carol, for fulfilling that dream for her.

The youngest of four children, she was the only girl but that didn’t stop her from joining in with her father and brothers in working the farm – especially when caring for the horses. She was closest to her brother, Arthur, both of them gifted athletes. Clara was a star basketball player, winning the county free throw contest throughout her high school years.

Clara attended the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Lignite, N.D. and was proud that she memorized Luther’s catechism in both English and Norwegian. It was at a church picnic that she caught the eye of one of the Pastor’s sons, Martin, who was newly graduated from Concordia College. It was the depression years so they dated for eight years so that Martin could support his parents and Clara could support the farm, selling eggs and what would become the area famous Rykken cream and butter. The family rejoiced when Clara and Martin married on Ole’s birthday, July 12, 1943. They raised 3 children, John Aarthun, Carol Lower, and Jean Zimmerman.

Clara and Martin lived in Lignite, Grenora and Washburn N.D. where Martin served as school superintendent. They then moved to Bismarck and finally retired to Moorhead, MN where they lived next door to daughter Jean’s in-laws. These two couples had a special friendship, rooted first in their support of their children and then their “shared” grandchildren. Clara adored all her grandchildren, taking every opportunity to care for them whenever she could.

Clara taught Sunday School for over 20 years and was active in church women’s groups serving in many leadership roles. She served for funerals into her 90s telling her family she was needed because other women had gotten too old to serve. She loved her 90th birthday celebration and the trip to Hawaii her children gave her. She gifted herself a new car and was fiercely independent until 93 when she moved to Linden Tree Circle.

Clara was a talented seamstress making all her own and her children’s clothes. She sewed both daughters’ wedding dresses without a pattern, using only pictures as guides. She was also a wonderful baker, excelling at Norwegian pastries and bread and pies, the later daily staples at the dinner table.
Of all of her talents and quiet wisdom, the family will miss most her sweet disposition and her undying devotion to us all. She will be forever remembered for loving us unconditionally and her strong devotion to God. She spoke of missing Martin every day after his death 20 years ago. Truly theirs was an amazing love story. Daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, friend to all, we will forever miss her.

Clara is survived by her children, John Aarthun Clarice, Wausau WI; Carol Lower, Kansas City MO; Jean Zimmerman, Fargo; grandchildren Leif Terslin, Kansas City, MO; Larissa Terslin, Kansas City, MO; Anitra Kurtzweil Kevin, Farmington, MN; Arick Aarthun, Burnsville, MN; Andrew Zimmerman, Fargo ND; Micah Zimmerman, Fargo ND; great grandchildren, Derrian DeNardi and Brennan DeNardi, Kansas City, MO; Clara Kurtzweil and Andrew Kurtzweil, Farminton, MN.; and Rykken and Aarthun cousins, nieces and nephews.

Clara joins her husband, Martin, her parents Ole and Caroline Rykken, her brothers Joseph, Marvin and Arthur, and her sons-in-law Robert Lower and Kent Zimmerman in eternal life. We know that she is the ultimate heavenly hostess, serving her God and providing guidance to those continuing in the physical world.

Clara’s life will be celebrated at a funeral service on Friday, December 26, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran, Moorhead, MN.