Obituary of Cleone Clayton

Cleone Marie Clayton, 74, of Cambridge died unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 doing something she loved. She was born October 16, 1937 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota to Albin and Elizabeth (Wimperi) Langlie. Cleone grew up in nearby Newfolden where she graduated high school in 1955. After graduation she worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone in Thief River Falls. In 1959 she began working at Northwest Airlines as a reservation agent, spending the next 15 years there. On July 23, 1960 she married Dennis Clayton at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of New Solum. They lived in South Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Denver, Colorado, and Hastings, MN before moving to San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1972. She lived a short time in Edina before moving to Cambridge in 1975, and had lived there since. Cleone and Dennis owned and operated Utility Chemicals and Midwest Analytical Services in Cambridge from 1975 until 2000. She was an active member of the Cambridge Lutheran Church volunteering wherever they needed help - greeting, kitchen lady, blood donation, whatever. She loved family - especially her grand kids, entertaining, cooking, golfing, fishing, politics, and traveling. One of the highlights of her life was her wonderful Christmas Party which she hosted for 20 years including her 10-foot crystal covered Christmas tree. In all things, Cleone was the quiet support behind people - was always there, always giving, never taking and quietly strong. Cleone was preceded in death by her parents, brother Noral Langlie, sisters Sondra Giegling and Linda Dvorak. She is survived by her husband Dennis of Cambridge, daughters Denise and husband John Delahanty of Brooklyn Park, Colleen and husband Scott Chirhart of Oakdale, four grandchildren Nicholas and Alexandra Hannah, Connor and Shannon Delahanty, brother Roger Langlie of Crystal, sisters Gwen and husband Mickey Hulsey of Hazelgreen, AL, Patty Johnson of St. Louis Park, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She leaves a big hole in a lot of lives.