Clifford Mitchell

Clifford F. "Cliff" Mitchell, age 89 of Albany, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

A Celebration of Life with Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8 at the Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany with Rev. Cletus Connors, O.S.B officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery at a later date as Cliff donated his body to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Military honors will be provided by the Albany American Legion.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Seven Dolors Gathering Area in Albany. The American Legion, Albany Fire Department, and the Albany Lions club will pray at 7 p.m. Friday evening in the Gathering Area.

Cliff was born March 30, 1928 in Berthold, North Dakota to Guy and Grace (Wherley) Matzdorf. Cliff attended schools in North Dakota before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. On June 30, 1954 he was united in marriage to Eleanor Rohling at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. Cliff retired from farm broadcasting with KASM radio in 2008. Cliff and his family ran an auction company for many years. His family proudly continues the auction tradition.

He was a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church, American Legion Post 482, Albany Lions Club, National Association of Farm Broadcasters, Minnesota Auctioneers Association, and a retired member of the Albany Fire Department. Most of all Cliff enjoyed his family; they were his pride and joy. Cliff was always a gracious host whether it was for family, friends or colleagues.

Survivors include his wife, Eleanor "Ellie" Mitchell of Albany; children, Dean (Sheila) Mitchell of Albany and Karen (Doug) Schleicher of Albany; five grandchildren, Paul (Abbey) and Alex Mitchell, Cody and Callie Schleicher, Abby Mitchell and great-grandson, Everett Mitchell; sister, Irene Spratt and brother-in-law Harold Stroklund both of Minot, North Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Glenn Mitchell; and sisters, Kathryn Stroklund and Myrtis Pardon; and many other relatives.

Honorary bearers will be his fellow Radio Broadcasters, Albany Fire Department, Albany American Legion, Albany Lions.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations that will be used for a scholarship fund in Cliff's memory to continue Cliff's commitment to agriculture.