Obituary: Clifford Joseph Carr

Clifford Joseph Carr

We are heartbroken to announce the death of our father, Clifford Carr. He passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on February 7, 2023, at his home in Tucson, Arizona, surrounded by his family.

Clifford Joseph "C.J." Carr was born in Carrington, N.D., on September 16, 1925, the third of seven children. He worked on the farm for his father and later he and his two older brothers began farming together.

He joined the Navy during WWII and served during the end of the war. He was crew on airplanes and developed an enduring love for flying during this time.

After his discharge, on his way home, he stopped in Chicago to visit Louise Lange, an old girlfriend from his hometown of Carrington. While out on an early-morning walk, as they walked past a jewelry store where the owner was just unlocking the door, he asked for her hand in marriage and they went in to buy a ring.

By the end of 1946, they had settled on the old Carr homestead northeast of Carrington. There they farmed and ranched for many years and raised twelve children. They are Audrey Carr, Kathleen Hampton, Barbara Shipley, Daniel Carr, Timothy Carr, Michael Carr, George Carr, Mary Carr, Suzanne Carr, Steven Carr, Lorelle Carr, and Hugh Carr.

In the 60s, he built the Carrington Livestock Auction, which he ran for many years.

In 1970, he sold the farm to his brother and moved to Detroit Lakes, Minn., where he ran the Soo Pass Dude Ranch and the Dairy Whirl. He also sold real estate for several years before moving to Las Vegas. There he continued to sell real estate until he retired.

His hobbies were flying (he owned seven different airplanes), ventriloquism, woodworking (in retirement he had a shop where he built and sold his work), computers (he used his PC every day to keep up with current events), chess (he played on-line every day with people around the world until his last few days), and creative writing. He self-published many books about life in North Dakota and his views of the world. He was very involved in Toastmasters and AA, and was always ready with a joke.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Louise; his parents, Joseph and Mabel Carr; his father and mother-in-law, Reinhold and Martha Lange; brothers, James and Francis; sister, Helen Karpen and son, Steven Peter Carr.

He leaves behind his sister Evelyn Copenhaver and brothers Joe Carr and John Carr, as well as the eleven children, twenty six grandchildren, twenty five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of sending flowers, Clifford asked that donations be sent to HeartoftheNation.org which is the weekly on-line mass he attended and enjoyed during his latter years.

A memorial service/ celebration of Clifford's life will be held on June 17 in Carrington, N.D.