Clara Bergljoth Strate was born November 18, 1912 on her parents farm near Brocket, ND, the daughter of Lars and Berthe (Holte) Strate. She was raised there, attended the Cleveland School, and helped her parents on the farm. Clara married Russell A. Young on February 6, 1937 at Devils Lake. They made their home in Lawton, where Clara raised their family and also was a cook at the Lawton School for many years. Clara and Russell moved to Grand Forks in 1963, where Clara worked as a Dietician's Aide at Deaconess Hospital. They retired and moved to Devils Lake in 1975. Russell died November 4, 1979. Clara continued to make her home in Devils Lake until she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in December of 2006. Throughout the years Clara was a member of the Lawton Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid. She enjoyed reading, knitting, and crocheting, but really loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Clara will be deeply missed by her 3 children, Lenelle (Robert) Morris of Salem, OR, James (Trish) Young of Brocket, ND, and Allan (Karen) Young of St. Hilaire, MN; 6 grandchildren, Tammy Tollefson, Lawni Young, Lea Ann Torgerson, Malia Young, Audra Young, and Jared Young; 4 great-grandchildren, Timothy Tollefson, Ronald Tollefson, Kaylor Torgerson, and Janessa Torgerson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell Young; her son, Gary Young; her sister, Gladys Strate; and 2 brothers, Carl Strate and Harald Strate in his infancy.

Clara's Funeral Service will be held at the Lawton Lutheran Church of Lawton, ND, on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Don Reynolds. The organist will be Margaret Swanson. Interment will be in the spring at the Lawton Cemetery. Casketbearers will Clara's grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND, on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will continue at the church on Wednesday, beginning at 12:00 p.m. until the time of service.