Clarice Sorteberg, 93

Thief River Falls – Clarice Hannah (Benston) Sorteberg, of Thief River Falls, passed away on Thursday,
January 15, 2026, surrounded by her loving family at the Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls.
Clarice was born on December 9, 1932, at home in rural Thief River Falls to Clarence and Hilma (Olson) Benston. The youngest of three daughters, she was raised on a small family farm just outside the city limits, an area now known as Sorteberg Drive. Her father worked as a carpenter, and her mother managed both the home and farm. Growing up during the
Great Depression, Clarice learned the value of hard work early in life as she helped her mother and sisters sustain the family.
She attended school in Thief River Falls and graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1951. Following her dream of becoming a teacher, she completed Teacher’s Training and earned her teaching certificate. Eventually she graduated from Bemidji State University with her teaching degree.
Clarice began her teaching career at Silverton Country School before moving to the Grygla Consolidated School and the Holt School.
One Saturday evening, while attending a dance in Middle River, she met her one true love, Russell Sorteberg. They married in 1953 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls.
Together, they welcomed four children: Michael, Merle, Kristine, and Crystal.
Clarice and Russell were delighted to purchase her parents’ farm. She was not only born there, but she lived nearly her entire life on that farm until 2022. While teaching at Holt School, Clarice chose to pause her teaching career to raise her children, giving her more time to help on the farm and support her children’s involvement in church, 4-H, and school activities.
At Trinity Lutheran Church, she served faithfully through Sunday School teaching, Circle, and Altar Care, ensuring her children were raised with a strong foundation of faith.
Clarice and Russell cherished the simple joys of farm life, and their family grew with the arrival of their first granddaughter in 1982. Sadly, later that year, Russell passed away. With strength, grace, and faith, Clarice navigated her grief and sought work to support her daughters still at home. She began her career at DigiKey in 1987, where she worked for 22 years until retiring at age 77. She treasured the friendships she made there.
Clarice was a devoted 4-H leader for more than 20 years with the Smiley 4-H Club, continuing her passion for teaching by mentoring young people in a variety of project areas.
As a child, she fondly remembered the family dressing up and walking to the Pennington County Fair. As a mother, she looked forward to the fair every year, supporting her children as they prepared their 4-H projects for exhibit.
On the farm, the family raised small grains, hay, cattle, and other livestock. Clarice kept a large vegetable garden and raised 300 chickens annually, selling eggs to local customers, restaurants, and schools.
For 73 years, Clarice faithfully wrote letters to her Teacher Training classmates. Their round-robin tradition, where each person added a new letter, removed their previous one, and mailed the packet to the next, continued across generations of life changes. Keeping this circle of correspondence alive for so many decades stands as a remarkable testament to enduring friendship, commitment, and love.
Clarice was known for always having a fresh pot of coffee ready and for being a wonderful cook. She will be especially remembered for her delicious sweets, festive Christmas gatherings featuring family singing, and Norwegian traditional foods, lutefisk and lefsa. She made birthdays special by celebrating with our cousins and always a homemade cake.
Clarice enjoyed traveling with family and friends and some highlights included destinations such as: Norway, cruises to Hawaii and Caribbean, and Florida.
Clarice joyfully welcomed into her life nine grandchildren, including two sets of twins and eleven great-grandchildren, with one set of twins among them. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and proud grandmother and great-grandmother. Clarice was a friend to many and a cherished presence in the lives of all who knew her.
She is survived by her children: Michael (Lori) Sorteberg, Merle Sorteberg, Kristine (Robert) Robson, and Crystal (Dan) Barth-Pelletier; grandchildren: Lisa (Ryan) Schlosser, Dustin (Jess) Sorteberg, Sean (Amanda) Sorteberg, Chelsea (Dacotah) Byklum, Toni (Tyler) Foss, Mathew (Shelby) Barth, Ethan (Savannah) Barth, Aaron Robson, and Hunter Barth; great-grandchildren: Noah Schlosser, Beau Schlosser, Eli Schlosser, Summer Sorteberg, Sophie Sorteberg,
Spencer Sorteberg, Kipp Foss, Nash Byklum, Mack Foss, Aubree Barth and Reed Barth. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Carol Dalum and Donna Sorteberg; brother-in-law, Duane Austin; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Clarice is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Hilma; her husband, Russell; her sisters, Marie Iverson and Mildred Rondorf; her son-in-law, Daniel Barth; as well as many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and cherished friends.
For the past three years, Clarice resided at the Thief River Care Center, where she enjoyed participating in activities, especially Bingo. She formed many close friendships and deeply appreciated the kindness and care of the staff. The Sorteberg family extends heartfelt thanks to the entire Care Center staff for their care and compassion.
Clarice’s legacy of love, hard work, devotion to her family, and her strong
Christian faith will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
The funeral service for Clarice will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, with Reverend Christy Klemz officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, beginning at 5 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., and again one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church and Thief River Care Center (activities).
May her memory be a blessing.
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