Clara Alabjorg DeRoode

The funeral service for Clara DeRoode, 99, of Marshall, formerly of Minneota, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minneota. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Minneota. Clara Alabjorg (Rafnson) DeRoode was born on May 17, 1920, in Westerheim Township, Lyon County, to Ole and Sarah (Snidal) Rafnson. She was baptized on November 21, 1920, in the Westerheim Lutheran Church. In June of 1937 she was married to Glenn Roy Avery. To this union were born sons Daryll and Robert. Clara suffered with tuberculosis for a time and due to this illness, the family moved to Arizona. Later Clara married Armand Falasca. The couple lived in Chicago and Clara worked at Penny’s, as a Realtor, and owned and operated a hair styling salon. After Armand’s death, Clara returned to Minneota. In 1988, she was united in marriage to John DeRoode. Family was Clara’s greatest joy. She loved to cook for special family celebrations, loved reading, playing cards, bowling, golfing, bird watching and gardening. Clara was a talented seamstress and spent countless hours creating items for the Minneota Senior Center. She will be remembered by her family for her made- with-love “grandma blankets” and had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. Clara was very proud of her Icelandic heritage and her membership at the Icelandic church in Minneota. Clara died on Thursday, December 19, 2019, at the Minneota Manor in Minneota. She is survived by her sons Daryll (and Pat) Avery of Lisle, IL, Robert (and Sandy) Avery of Gold Canyon, AZ, step children Randy (and Sheila) DeRoode of Ghent, Colette (and Mark) Patzer of Marshall, Greta (and Craig) Langland of Willmar, grandchildren Michael Avery and Robert Jr. (and Katie) Avery, step-grandchildren Heather (and Jay) Cattoor, Ryan DeRoode, Adam (and Chassidy) DeRoode, Hannah (and Cassen) Gerber, Austin (and Megan) Patzer, Maddie Langland and Mason Langland, step great-grandchildren Seth, Abbey, Avery and Colton, many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, granddaughter Michelle Avery, step-daughter Janel DeRoode and all eight of her siblings.