Clara Harding, 91, of Halfway died March 9, 2006.
Her funeral took place Sunday at the Pine Valley Christian Center in Halfway.
On Saturday at noon a service will be held at the Springfield Faith Center in Springfield. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to follow. Interment will be at Lane Memorial Gardens in Eugene.
Clara Irene Harding was born Aug. 12, 1914, on the family homestead in Big Stone Township, three miles from Corinth, N.D., to Sever Ellefson and Inga Jeanette Golson.
Clara was educated at the country school in Big Stone Township at Corinth, N.D., and graduated from high school at Wild Rose, N.D., in 1932. She then attended Minot Teachers College and received her teacher’s certificate in Elementary Education.
Her first teaching job was near Wildrose, N.D. In 1938 she came to Oregon and received her master’s degree from Monmouth Teachers College; there she also received her Oregon Teaching Certificate. She first taught in Myrtle Creek. Then she moved to Eugene in 1940, and taught in a one-room country schoolhouse at Wolf Creek, just outside Eugene. On June 14, 1940, she married Vernon Harding in Eugene, where they lived for 65 years. Clara and Vern loved to dance; they met at a dance hall in North Dakota and after they were married took ballroom dancing classes at Arthur Murray Studio of Dance, learning the polka, square dances, and even the twist.
In November 2005 Clara and Vern moved to Halfway to live with her daughter, Rhea Gambill, and her husband, Pastor Rob.
Clara was the office manager and girl Friday for V A Harding Construction Company. She was an avid reader and loved to play bridge. She loved gospel music and sang duets with her sister for years. Clara belonged to Beta Sigma Phi for 50 years. She and her husband were members of Knights of Pythias, the Elks Lodge and the Moose Lodge for more than 50 years. Clara was a member of Pine Valley Christian Center in Halfway.
She is survived by her husband of over 65 years, Vernon Harding; her daughter Rhea (Pastor Rob) Gambill, of Halfway. Her sons, Lon (Kathi) Harding; and Redge (Lynda) Harding all of Eugene; 10 grandchildren: Tami (Jim) Wyncoop, Dee Dee (Mark) Gerber, Ed Litten, Tom (Jenny) Gambill, Shemuel Harding, Sarah (Jeremy) Parker, Uri (Rachel) Harding, Alyson Harding, Joshua Gambill, and Tyler Harding; 15 great-grandchildren: Shandell, Angela, Valeena, Mitchell, Isaac, Amanda, Regis, Cody, Tanner, Allyson, Kylee, Logan, Shanna, Ryan, and Nathanial; brother Clifford (Lorna) Ellefson, of Brownsville; two sisters, Peggy (Walvin) Gross, of Portland; and Gladys Hague of Eugene; sisters-in-law Ruth Ellefson; and Jean Hamreus, brothers-in-law, Darrell (Phyllis) Harding and Cleo (Pat) Harding.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Signe Ydstie and Bertha Ellefson; and brothers, Elmer, Gilbert, Bill, Arnold, Leland, Karl, Alvin and Robert Ellefson
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in memory of Clara may do so to the Assembly of God Church Missions in care of Pine Valley Christian Center, P.O. Box 709, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 17, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor