Murle Evan Wiltse

Murle Wiltse Murle E. Wiltse,Former Clifford mayor Murle Evan Wiltse, 73, of Clifford, N. Dak., died Jan. 10, 2007, in Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fargo. Mr. Wiltse was born Oct. 27, 1933, in Bagley, Minn., the sixth son of William and Lela (Pulver) Wiltse. He attended and graduated from school in Bagley and then attended the School of Agriculture (University of Minnesota-Crookston) in Crookston, Minn., for two years. He served in the U.S. Army, Corps. of Engineers, during the Korean War from March 1952 to March 1954. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He married Vicki S. Reed on Dec. 27, 1974, in Albuquerque, N. Mex. The couple lived in Clifford 20 years. He worked as a mechanic, welder and truck driver and owned and operated Clifford Welding & Repair before retiring in 1997. He served two terms as mayor of Clifford, served on the Traill County Economic Development Commission, was a member of the National Rifle Association and Muzzleloaders Club. He was a member of the Riverside Evangelical Free Church at Mayville. Mr. Wiltse liked restoring and repairing old tractors and loved bluegrass and country music, fishing, hunting and just being outdoors. He is survived by his wife, Vicki; three daughters, Sondra Stockton of Artesia, N. Mex., Cindy (Gary) Smith of Albuquerque, N. Mex., and Molly Wiltse of Mekinock, N. Dak.; two sons, Clint (Rosina) Reed of Taos, N. Mex., and Evan (Anita) Wiltse of Wisconsin; one sister, Eloyce (Emmett) Stastad of Mekinock; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Gregory Reed; five brothers, David, Glenn, Leon, Neil and Luther; and one sister Sheila (Wiltse) Petersen. Visitation will be at the Baker Funeral Home in Mayville, N. Dak., on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 14, from 1-3 p.m. Funeral services will be held Mon., Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. in the Riverside Evangelical Free Church at Mayville. Graveside committal service will be held Tues., Jan 16, at 1 p.m. the Bagley City Cemetery in Bagley, Minn. Arrangements by Baker Funeral Home of Mayville, N. Dak.,