Denise Clifton

Denise M. Clifton, age 59 of St. Cloud, died peacefully of natural causes with her puppy dog companion, Vida, by her side on Monday, October 28, 2024 at her home in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, November 2 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Gabriel Walz officiating. Interment will be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Ward Springs.

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Denise Marion Clifton was born on December 29, 1964 to William and Darlene (Jacobs) Ahrens at the Melrose hospital. Denise grew up on the family dairy farm, near Sauk Centre, where she cultivated her love of baking, gardening, and family time. Farm life instilled a strong foundation of hard work and commitment to a job well done which Denise carried into her adult life as a business owner. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1983 and continued on to The University of Minnesota Crookston, where she earned an associate's degree. After college she briefly lived in Minneapolis where she learned important life lesson and gained invaluable lifelong friends. On July 1st, 1989, Denise married the love of her life, Bill Clifton, at St Joseph’s church, in Grey Eagle, Minnesota. Bill and Denise lived in Avon before settling roots in Sauk Rapids, MN. There, they welcomed three children: Christina, Jennifer, and Grant. Denise gained a bonus son in Billy, when she married his dad, Bill. Her kids were her pride and joy, through all of life trials and tribulations she always put her children first. Denise instilled strong life skills in her children through many hours spent working side by side for the family carpet cleaning business. Bill and Denise started the company together in 1996 and Denise continued to keep the company running for 20 years! Even though the company was called The Number One Carpet Man, Denise was the sole proprietor for many years. Denise was a problem solver and dedicated businesswoman who loved her customers like family, and it showed in the successes she maintained as a single working mom. The only thing Denise loved more than her kids was her grandchildren, Dax, Stella, Koe, Kevin, Evelyn & Olivia. She did everything she could in recent years to feel better and stronger so that she could be there for her family. 

Denise loved spending time with friends and traveling to new places, checking out live music and trying new foods. She was well known for her love of cooking and baking, and she collected sugar cookie cutters. Denise had a real green thumb. She nursed plants back to health and tended huge gardens at each of her homes. She will be remembered for her love for her family, the way she never ever complained, and her giant caring heart. 

Denise is survived by her children, Billy (Tiffany) Clifton, Christina (Jeremy) Rockenbach Clifton, Jennifer (Jake) Schreiner, and Grant (Adrianne) Clifton; grandchildren, Evelyn & Olivia Clifton, Dax Rockenbach, Koe Schreiner, Stella Clifton & Kevin Estes; siblings, Deb (Joe) Tauer, Dale (Patsy) Ahrens, Dennis (Nancy) Ahrens, Donna Ringler, and Dan (Sara) Ahrens; and sister-in-law, Sue Ahrens.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie & Darlene; and brother, Dean Ahrens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.