Biography of Clarence Grover

Clarence was born on his parents' farm outside Perley, Clarence & Lenore Grover

Minnesota. He spent a good portion of his childhood on the Grover homeplace in Moland Township, where he loved to shadow his Uncle Ed. It is said that one of Clarence's jobs was to lead his Grandfather Tarje, who had had a stroke, around. When Clarence got tired or felt mischievous he would trip his Grandfather.

He married Lenore Lee on November 9, 1912. She was the daughter of Gunder Lee and Thone Thortvedt. They had three children.

Clarence had a sharp mind and a great talent for math. He was also much in demand as a square dance caller. In the culture of those times, he was expected to go into farming and so he did. Clarence took over his father's farm and when it was lost he worked on the Gilbert Kroshus farm outside Perley from 1926-1934. Throughout the Depression, Clarence worked as a hired hand, mostly for Lena Kassenborg, while they were living with Alex and Pauline in the Concordia Church parsonage. The family then moved into buildings on the Keith Offutt farm, next to Grandpa Lee's place, they lived on the old Grover farm for 2-3 years, and then returned to the Lee farm again where Clarence died of a heart attack in 1949.

Lenora was a much admired member of the community, described as "gentle, modest, dedicated and bright." After Clarence died, she moved to California and spent time with each of her daughters. She died in San Rafael California on August 16, 1957 from tuberculosis, which had afflicted her for several years.

Clarence and Lenore are both buried in Concordia Lutheran Church cemetery, rural Glyndon.

Albert & Florence