Evelyn Thompson-Clairmont

Evelyn M. Thompson Clairmont, age 92, of Waco, TX, formerly of Clifford/Galesberg and Bismarck, ND, died Friday morning, July 18, at St. Catherine Center in Waco, Texas.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday July 22, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Waco Texas and a second service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday July 27, at the Finley Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finley, North Dakota. Interment will be in the Norman Lutheran Church Cemetery in Clifford, ND.
Evelyn Mae (Burkholder) Thompson Clairmont was one of nine children, born to Bessie (DeLapp) and John Elbert "Burt" Burkholder in Galesburg, ND, April 25, 1922. Evelyn grew up and received her education in that area, graduating in 1940 from Clifford High School. She married her high school sweetheart Franklin Thompson on August 22, 1940 in Moorhead, MN. Evy and Franklin had five daughters together. Evelyn was an active member in the community and the Norman Lutheran Church. She opened and operated the Galesburg Café, while devoting herself to helping farm alongside her husband. They were married 25 years until Franklin's death August 29, 1965. As a young widow, no task was too overwhelming for Evelyn as she was a fantastic cook and provider for her family. She married Ray Clairmont September 30, 1966 and relocated to Bismarck, ND. Ray brought eight children into the marriage creating a combination that was lively, loud, and loving. Evelyn loved sewing, cooking, painting, knitting, and her garden was always pristine and plentiful. Evy wintered in Pharr, TX during the 1980's and 1990's. She loved spending time with her brothers, sisters, friends, and family. Evelyn spent many hours' playing cards with all of them. After 32 years of marriage, her husband Ray Clairmont passed away.
Evelyn loved to travel until she settled in Finley, ND in 1996. In 1997, she opened the Finley House Bed & Breakfast with her daughter LinDa. Evelyn spent the last years of her life in Waco, TX where several daughters, grandchildren, and family members lived. Evelyn died Friday morning, July 18th at the St. Catherine Center in Waco, Texas. She had attained the age of 92 years, 2 months and 23 days.
She will be loved and missed by her daughters: Bonnie Norton (Floyd) of Temple, TX; LinDa Bergstrom (Gary) of Finley, ND; late Mary Lund (Gary) of Bismarck ND; Lynnette Pruitt (Steve) of Arlington, TX; and Susan Bozard (Scott) of Humble, TX. Grandchildren: Wendi Klander, Jamie Curry, Staci Bowser, Dan Hugghins, Joe Hugghins, Tor Bergstrom, Kyl Bergstrom, Taasha Zerface, Katrina Blikre, Sean Lund, Seth Lund, Sara Boeckel, Shana Peltz, Ty Pruitt, Taya Hunter, Tam Pruitt, Taite Pruitt, Tyler Bosard, Tegan Easton, Trey Bosard. Evelyn had 50 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Evy will be loved and missed by her Clairmont sons and daughters, Maureen Welsh (Victor) of Lake Oswego OR, Deborah Haake (late Robert) of Cochran, WI; Audie Clairmont (Candy) of Elsie, MI; Rodney Clairmont (Melody) of Bismarck, ND; Becky Ziegler (Timothy) of Bismarck, ND; Sabrina Landtroop (Chuck) of Merkle, TX; Kim Novicky (Todd) of Gilbert, AZ; and Carla Hubbard (Tim) of Sherwood, OR. Grandchildren: Shannon, Clint, Bart, Bret, Paige, Caleb, Amanda, Alisha, Amy, Gabriel, Nicole, Nathan, Kyland, Bria, Raymond, Michael, Chontae, Ashley, Tara, Kelsey, Angela, Colton, Kayla, Zachary, Ashton, Alexandra, and Taylor. Evelyn also had 28 Clairmont great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are two brothers; Bill Burkholder of Arthur, ND and Frank Burkholder of Grand Forks, ND and many loved nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Franklin Thompson, daughter, Mary Thompson-Lund, second husband Ray Clairmont, 2 sisters; Edith Thompson and Ethyl Bring and 4 brothers; Jim, John, Burt, and Earl Burkholder.
The interment will be in the Norman Lutheran Cemetery in Clifford, ND.