Epling, Clara Viola 1915-2004

EPLING, SEGLEM, MITCHELL

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/2/2006 at 14:44:33

SWANVILLE, Minn. -- Clara Viola Epling, 88, of Little Falls, Minn., and formerly of Swanville, Minn., died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls.

Clara Viola (Seglem) Epling was born Aug. 5, 1915, in Plymouth County, the daughter of Albert and Flossi (Mitchell) Seglem. She attended school in Elkhorn and Union Townships. Clara was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended church in the Kingsley and Oyens areas.

On July 5, 1941, she was united in marriage to Arnold J. Epling at St. John's Lutheran Church in in Le Mars by the Rev. L.L. Belk. Following their marriage, Clara and Arnold lived in Stanton Township, until Nov. 8, 1969, when they moved to their farm near Swanville, Minn. Arnold died in 1989.

Clara continued to live on the farm and later became a resident of the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls, where she resided until her death.

Clara was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie, Minn. She enjoyed gardening, flowers and letter writing.

Survivors include her son and daughter, Eugene Epling and his wife, Vickie, of Swanville, Minn., and Judy Engle and her husband, Leonard, of Homedale, Idaho; brothers, Albert Seglem of Hillsboro, Ore., Floyd Seglem of Pipestone, Minn., and Norman Seglem and his wife, Alice, of Cutback, Mont.; sisters, Flora Rockfellow and her husband, George, of Downey, Calif., Opal Sabatll and her husband, Joseph, of San Anselmo, Calif.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold; parents; a brother, Robert Seglem and a great-grandson, Rickey.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie, with the Rev. Carl Larson officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery in Swanville. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today (Monday) at the Shelley-Gibson Funeral Chapel in Swanville, and Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie.