Cliff Frazee

Memorial services for Cliff Frazee, age 65, of Milbank, will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2007, at the American Lutheran Church in Milbank. The Reverend Janine Rew-Werling will officiate. Cliff died on Friday, July 13, 2007, at his home. Visitation with his family present will be at the Emanuel-Patterson Funeral Home in Milbank on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Cremation has taken place. Honorary bearers will be Dave and Colleen Husky, Harvey and Deanna Schaefer, Dr. Van and Dr. Kay, Rick and Diane Knutson; Art and Bev Jacobson, Ben and Jane Popowski, Ken and Peggy Vanorny, Harold and Marge Nowick, Timothy and Carol Melby, Leon and Betty Gapp, and Melvin "Pete" Flones. Erland Clifford Frazee was born on August 3, 1941, in Pelican Rapids, MN, the son of Merle and Edna (Erlandson) Frazee. He was baptized and confirmed in Pelican Rapids. Cliff graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1959. He was united in marriage to Patricia J. Miller at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN, on July 27, 1960. Cliff served his country in the U.S. Army in Stuttgart, Germany, from 1959-62 as a Veterinary Food Inspector. Upon his discharge, he worked as a milk deliveryman for Town and Country Dairy in Fergus Falls. In 1962 he went to work for Otter Tail Power Company as a member of a crew, later as a Service Representative in Waubay and Milbank, SD, and, prior to his retirement in 1999, he was a Division Marketing Supervisor. In his retirement, Cliff became an avid fisherman and aardvark trainer. He enjoyed being on the lake with his fishing buddies Harvey Schaefer and Dr. Van. Their fishing adventures and stories have become legendary. He never missed being part of the morning coffee group at Zem's Bakery in Milbank where he held the official title of coffee brewer. Every other Tuesday he would go to Summit for a haircut and prepare lunch with his "Dad" Melvin "Pete" Flones. Anyone whose life Cliff touched benefited from his ability to fix anything from a lawnmower that didn't run to gluing his grandson Cole's broken toys. His sons always called him "the Disco Lawnmower Repair Man." Once a person was Cliff's friend, they remained his friend forever. His acts of kindness have multiplied many times over the years. If Cliff was your friend, you were blessed and everything in your house and garage ran perfectly. In the summer your lawn was mowed and your sidewalks were clear of snow in the winter. He was a loving grandfather who loved giving his grandchildren rides on his lawnmower and bringing them sprinkled or frosted donuts from Zem's Survivors include his wife Patricia, Milbank; two sons, Bradley (Pierre) Frazee and wife LeaAnn, of Idaho Falls, ID, and Jacque Frazee and wife Claire, of rural Milbank; Mike Lauritsen, who Cliff loved like a son, of Summit, SD; his sister, Estelle Dellaneva, Fergus Falls, MN; seven grandchildren: Paige, Brianna, Cole, Jairek, Cassandra, Kristopher, and Justin; three great grandchildren: Jordyn, James, and Adison; and many nieces and nephews. His parents and one sister, Barbara Erickson, preceded Cliff in death.



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