Clinton Strootman

Clinton M. Strootman, age 88, of Belgrade, died Sunday morning, January 30, at the Belgrade Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, Feb. 3, at the First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Clinton Michael Strootman was born on October 9, 1922, near Raymond, Minnesota, the son of Evert and Margaret (Burns) Strootman. He grew up in the rural Raymond community and received his education in the District #101 school. He was baptized at the Raymond Methodist Church and confirmed at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake. Clinton became engaged in farming in the Raymond area. In 1952, he moved to farm near Norway Lake. On May 9, 1959, Clinton was united in marriage to Edna Nelson Orsten. They lived in St. Paul, Rochester and in Sunburg for 41 years. He was employed in the construction and masonry field, retiring in about 1985. In June of 2003, they moved to Belgrade. Clinton was an active member of First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake.

Clinton had a wonderful sense of humor, a warm heart and friend to many. He was an avid wood-carver, handyman and mechanic. Clinton also had great musical talent, playing piano, violin, accordion and the ukulele.

He is survived by his sister, Opal DeGrote of Spicer; daughter-in-laws, Johanna Orsten of Belgrade and Darlene Birr of Belgrade; six grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a special friend, Ernest Ruchti of New London, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Edna in 2004; stepsons, Marvin Orsten and Edward Orsten; a grandson, Jamie Orsten; a great-grandson, Benjamin Frank; one brother, Jimmy Strootman and one sister, Evelyn Ostendorf.