Boyd Clemens

Boyd H. Clemens, 93, passed away March 9, 2017, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 14, at 11:00 AM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 13, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at 1:00 pm at the ND Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan. Boyd was born January 8, 1924, to Arthur P. and Arline Martin Clemens on the W.A. Martin homestead south of Crosby. When he was 26 days old, his mother passed away. His father married Kate Stone when he was four and they moved to Noonan where Boyd was raised and educated. Nine months after high school graduation in 1942, Boyd entered the Army, where he served for three years in the U.S., France, England, and Germany. After discharge, he began employment with North Dakota State Employment Service, now a division of Job Service, at Williston. In 1951 he was promoted to district manager in Williston. In 1961 he was promoted to district manager of Job Service in Bismarck. He continued his employment with Job Service until his retirement in 1980. In 1946, Boyd married Levina Isakson. In 1953 they adopted Sharon, and Judy was born in 1956. Boyd and Levina were later divorced. In January 1981 he married Barbara Murdoch. They were fortunate to have traveled extensively in their RV. They traveled to all 48 continental states and to Alaska several times. They settled in Arizona in 1981 and became permanent residents in 1984. In 2013 they moved back to Bismarck to be closer to family. They lived at Primrose until they became residents of Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in July 2016. Boyd was always active in the American Legion. He served as vice commander of the Williston post and served in all offices of the Lloyd Spetz post #1 in Bismarck. He also served as North Dakota District Vice-Commander. In 1973 he was elected State Commander in North Dakota. In 1974 he was elected a National Vice-Commander of the American Legion. Boyd is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Sharon (Jerry) Dowhy and Judy Pedersen; step-son, Mac (Marilyn) Murdoch; step-daughters, Lynn (Paul) Larson and Janet (Jim) Geltel; his grandchildren, Eva (Leon) Hatzenbihler, Eric (Toni) Dowhy, Bethany (Loic) Joseph, Robert (Nikki) Pedersen, and Kelli Pedersen (Tyler Oster); seven great-grandchildren; ten step-grandchildren; and eleven step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Neola Cross. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Arline and Art Clemens; his step-mother, Kate Clemens; and his brothers, Dale and Larry. The family would prefer memorials to the ND Veterans Cemetery.