Pastor Clifford Edwin Thoen

Clifford Edwin Thoen, 79 of Harris, MN was born December 31st, 1935 to Edwin and Minnie Thoen near Farwell, MN and passed away on December 1st, 2015. Clifford is preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Minnie Thoen. He will be dearly missed by all those who loved him, including his loving wife Naomi, son Andrew (Amber), and granddaughters Alexis (Brandon), Hannah, and Emily, brother Willis (Rosalie), and sister Anne Marie (Jimmy). During his teens, Clifford was an avid sportsman who loved to hunt and trap. He and his brother Willis tried farming, and he even worked in logging. Clifford committed his life to God and was baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with the Holy Ghost at 20 years of age. Above everything else in his life, he loved God and spiritual things. As a young adult, he moved to St. Paul, where he found a job as a painter at Bethesda hospital. Clifford was married to the love of his life, Naomi Schleicher, on May 4th, 1958. He studied carpentry and architectural drafting; rapidly rising from carpenter’s apprentice to foreman/superintendent on numerous housing, office and church construction projects around the Twin Cities. Clifford and Naomi moved to Harris, MN during 1968, where he and brother Willis began a partnership in farming. His life was forever changed in 1972 due to a battle with sickness that brought him close to death’s door. Except for many prayers and God’s truly miraculous hand of healing, Clifford surely would have passed at that time. Clifford and Naomi began their ministry in earnest during the mid-1970’s, having home bible studies with neighbors and meeting with family and friends in their home. He became the founding pastor of Apostolic Gospel Church of Harris and served as Minnesota UPCI Section III presbyter. Clifford loved to study and preach from the Old Testament, weaving ancient stories which exposed human nature and God’s power into sermons applicable to life. He was a peace maker who was blessed with the God-given wisdom to help people resolve conflict. He pastored Apostolic Gospel Church for over 32 years, retiring from full time ministry in 2009. Besides his ministry, he loved to travel (just as long as it was west of the Mississippi) and was a master woodworker and loved the yearly ritual of Minnesota deer hunting. Clifford truly was a “people person”. He loved conversation and building relationships with others. It did not matter to him if you were just a young child or college professor. He cherished the time spent with his family, especially doting on his three granddaughters. He will be sorely missed. Pastors Alan Hosch and James Merrick will officiate at a funeral service for Pastor Clifford Thoen; 11:00 AM Friday (12/4/15) at the Apostolic Gospel Church in Harris.  A time of visitation and reviewal is planned for Thursday evening from 5-8 PM at the church and one hour prior to the service Friday; also at church.Memorials may be directed to the: Apostolic Gospel Church~43847 Elmcrest Ave. Harris, MN 55032.  Funeral arrangements for Pastor Clifford Thoen are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City~Olson Chapel                      www.funeralandcremationservice.com