Clarice Arlene Hotchkiss

Clarice Arlene (Berntsen) Hotchkiss was born in Minneapolis, MN on December 24, 1931 to Harold and Lillian Berntsen. She spent her childhood summers in northern Minnesota with cousins on the farm, and in Eu Claire, Wisconsin.

 
After graduation from Minnehaha Academy, she traveled out to Colorado and was employed by Nothwestern Bell.

 
She married Charles Beck in 1954 and had 2 daughters, Judith, and Kathleen. After divorce, she relocated back to Minnesota where she worked at Honeywell. As a young woman in the 60's, she was able to purchase a house, and juggled a career and family as a single parent. In 1966 she married Rod Hotchkiss, and they had three children, Curtis, Clinton, and Cindy.

 
After several moves, she returned to work for US West in Directory Assistance, and purchased a home in Crystal, MN. Clarice retired in 1993 and she spent her time babysitting her great-grandchildren, gardening, working on projects around the house and traveling. She loved Arizona, and would often fly down on her flight benefits, even if it was only for a day. She loved feeding the birds, and the local squirrels were all very fat!! Her favorite hobby was collecting 4-leaf clovers, and she has a record number of them preserved in an album.

She was fiercely independent and prided herself on still mowing her lawn and shoveling her driveway at 89 years old! 

Clarice was a devoted Christian and spent many hours daily studying the Bible.

 
In 2021 she relocated to Brainerd, MN and resided at Northern Lakes Assisted Living until her peaceful passing on Sept 6, 2022.

Clarice was preceded in death by her parents and her eldest daughter, Judith (Jon) Coil.
She is survived by her children Kathleen (Jim) Tischler, Curtis (Michelle) Hotchkiss, Clinton (Della) Hotchkiss, Cindy Hotchkiss, and stepchildren Carolyn (Al) Furst, Connie (James) Finch, Cathy Hotchkiss, Craig (Eileen) Hotchkiss, Carl (Nancy) Hotchkiss, 8 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

As per Clarice's wishes there will be no formal memorial service. She will be cremated, and her ashes will be scattered in her beloved Arizona.

Arrangements are with the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home, Brainerd.

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