CLAUSEN, Kenneth James (Reverend) 1928-2005

CLAUSEN, FALK, WEBER, JENSEN

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 10/31/2011 at 08:16:26

Reverend Kenneth James Clausen – February 21, 1928 – August 22, 2005

The Rev. Kenneth J. Clausen, age 77, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, in Billings Montana. He was a priest of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings for 52 years.

The Vigil will be held Wednesday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m., at Holy Rosary Church in Billings. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, Aug. 25, 1 p.m., also at Holy Rosary Church. The burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Billings. Dahl Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Father Clausen was born Feb. 21, 1928, the fourth child of Rudolph Clausen and Marie Falk Clausen of Osage, Iowa. His father died in 1931, and his mother married John M. Weber of Jesup, Iowa, in 1933.

He attended grade school of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Gilbertville, Iowa. In 1941, he went to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, where he completed high school, college, and seminary education.

He was ordained there for the Diocese of Great Falls on May 30, 1953, by the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Amleto Ciccognani.

His first assignment was Holy Rosary Church in Billings. Other assignments included director of the Heisey Memorial Center in Great Falls, and he again served Holy Rosary and St. Pius X parishes in Billings. He held the first Midnight Mass at St. Pius X in 1958.

From 1959 on, he served in Ryegate, Culbertson, Nashua, Ekalaka, Pompey's Pillar and Scobey-Glentana. In 1988, he was assigned as chaplain to the Billings Deaconess Hospital and to seven Billings nursing homes. For a while, he was chaplain to the Knights of Columbus Billings Council 9976. He assisted in various parishes of the diocese on weekends. He retired in 1993.

Father Clausen was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Irene and Jeri; and one brother, Jerome. Surviving is his sister Leila A. Jensen of St. George, Utah.

Memorials may be sent to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, PO Box 1399, Great Falls, MT 59403, or to local parishes for masses to be offered for Father Clausen's intentions while living, and now deceased.
"Remember me before the altar of the Lord."

Published in the Billings Gazette on 8/23/2005.