Clyde R. Bigelow, 87
Clyde R. Bigelow, 87, of Brandon, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls following a brief illness. A Memorial Service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6 at Risen Savior Catholic Church in Brandon. Visitation will be from 9a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will take place at the cemetery in Wahpeton, N.D., at a later date.
Clyde was born on May 10, 1936, in the Wadena County hospital to Alfred E. Bigelow and Winnifred (Umberhocker) Bigelow and was an only child of their union. Clyde attended Wadena high school and went on to graduate from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. He had a love of all things UND and loved the fighting Sioux, especially their hockey team.
He was married to Elizabeth, (Betty) Schmith of Wadena, Minn., on June 21, 1958, and their union produced four children who he dearly loved. He spent his early career working at Wilson’s Clothing in Montevideo Minn., before they moved to Wahpeton when became an owner of Stern Clothing, where he worked for 35 years. Later in his life, Betty and he moved to Colorado Springs and spent 10 years there with their son, Michael, and his family while working at Rutledge‘s clothing store. Fourteen years ago, they moved to Brandon, and he finished his career working at Norman’s where he would still be working today if he was physically able to do so. He loved the clothing business and the people he met through his work.
Clyde had a passion for people and found great comfort and joy in sharing time with his Risen Savior Catholic family in Brandon. He was a social ambassador, and it was his personal mission to introduce many people to the church.
He was a lifelong sports fanatic. He had a love and hate relationship with the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, and Gophers. He loved following the Brandon Valley Lynx in his later life and took great pleasure in their sport’s success. He was a passionate fan and enjoyed his affiliations with sports teams.
In his grandfather’s and namesake’s obituary it was stated, “It was our good fortune to have known him long and well and our appreciation of his character grew stronger with each passing year.” We feel that these words also truly reflect the sentiments of those who knew our father, Clyde.
As Clyde passed, the morning sky was trimmed with a gorgeous rosy hue, and we fancy we could see him not in death’s cold shroud of sorrow or despair but smiling upon us from the sunrise’s halo that marks God’s hello to the day. Smiling with all the well-remembered grace of his manhood, love and devotion and saying, the sunrise speaks, but feebly of the glories of another day. All is well.
With this we send Clyde, who is a devoted husband and father, a tender friend, a wonderful and kind person to his rest. May God protect him and wrap him in his arms with his warm and tender embrace.
Clyde is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Schmith), Bigelow of Brandon; daughter, Mary (Mike) Yaggie of Fargo, N.D.; sons, Charles (Kari) of Brandon, and James (Maria) of Fargo, Michael (Marlene) Bigelow of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Nicholas (Maria Platero Martinez) Bigelow, Jacob (Alyssa Armour) Bigelow, Isaac (Jenn) Bigelow, Brittany Yaggie, Jordan (Tarah) Yaggie, Taylor (Brooks) Burgum, Jamer Yaggie; Karlie (Jonathan) Blom, Kenya Bigelow, Juliana Bigelow, and Lillian Bigelow; great-grandchildren, Sofia, Bigelow Platero, Harper and Jameson Adams, Ruston and Vivianne Yaggie, Arthur, Harrison and Winslet Burgum.
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com.
