Obituary: Amundrud, Cletus

Amundrud, Cletus Erling 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Cletus Erling Amundrud on Friday, December 15, 2017 at the Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw. We felt comfort in knowing that he knew all of his immediate family had gathered by his bedside for his final journey just before his passing. 

He was the youngest of seven children born into the Joseph and Ada (Pratt) Amundrud family. He was born on NE-8-23-27 W2nd at Aylesbury, Saskatchewan on October 5, 1930. He always said he didn’t grow to be a big man because it was the beginning of the Dirty Thirties and he had to fight to get his food from his older siblings. He attended school in Aylesbury and then helped his father on the farm. 

Later he went to Calgary, Alta., and got a job putting up ice into boxcars that was shipped for refrigeration purposes. After that, he got a job working for an electrician and wired the main post office in Calgary. Later on, he came back to the Craik area and worked for Bert Wildfong on his farm, followed up with delivering fuel for the Craik Co-op.

It was at work where he met the love of his life, Celestina (Sal) Krassman, as she was the Co-op grocery store cashier. They got married on a beautiful, warm day on November 15, 1954. In the spring of ’56, they rented the Stevens’ farm, which is 1.5 miles west of Aylesbury, and where their large home still stands. He served on the local farm club executive, the snowplow club and the local Co-op board. 

He was one of the founding members of the Palliser Wheat Growers’ Association and the Canadian Custom Combiners’ Association. They worked very hard on their mixed farm with their three sons and their farm grew to a substantial size. They went custom combining in the U.S. for several years. 

Cletus continued to actively farm until 2007, which was the year he was very honoured to receive the Century Farm Award. Cletus and Sal enjoyed retirement on the farm and grew a large garden every year and looked after their beautiful yard. They loved entertaining their friends and family in their comfortable home. They also enjoyed their weekly trips to Moose Jaw to do some shopping and some relaxation at the casino.

He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Ada Amundrud; brothers Addis, Ellwyn and Dale; sister Lela McInnes; parents-in-law Louis and Agatha Krassman; brothers-in-law John Vopni, John Kunkel, Ron McInnes, Albert Mills, Vic Krassman, Garry Krassman, and Doug Simpson; sisters-in-law Mary Amundrud and Daisy Amundrud. 

He is survived by his sisters Leona Kunkel of Davidson and Phyllis Mills of Bengough. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Dorothy Amundrud of Melville, Irene Krassman of Davidson, and Monica Simpson of Red Deer, Alta. He is survived by numerous nephews, nieces, loving friends and neighbours who thought the world of him. 

Cletus is survived by his loving family: Celestina (Sal), three sons: Guy Cletus (Janice) of Saskatoon, Alan Russell of Craik, and Brian John of Kobe, Japan; seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. 

As per his wishes, Cletus’ memorial service will be held on July 26, 2018 in Aylesbury Hall when it is easier for his family and numerous friends to be together to celebrate his life. Funeral services will be provided by Hanson’s Funeral Services of Davidson, Sask.