Clarice Mae Cardinal was born on August 6, 1930 in Minot, North Dakota the daughter of Henry and Myrtle (Pearson) Vangsness. She graduated from high school in Wanamingo High School in Wanamingo, Minnesota. She met Eli Cardinal and they were married on April 19, 1952 in Goodhue, Minnesota. And to this union four children were born. They moved to Range, Wisconsin where Eli ran a milk route for a time before purchasing their farm in 1956. Besides raising her children she also worked at the laundry at Golden Age Manor for 23 years, several of them as supervisor. As Eli's health declined she became a caregiver at home and saw to it that he got to his dialysis for every appointment. She loved her morning coffee and often something sweet with it. She kept herself busy knitting and crocheting, but was also a great baker. Clarice always raised a large garden and canned the produce she grew. She always looked forward to the Sunday paper and the Jumble Puzzle that she could usually quickly solve. Clarice was living at Amery Memory Care at the time of her death on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at the age of 85.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Eli, daughter Gina Cardinal, grandson Garrett Cardinal, and sister Doris Kyllo. Clarice is survived by sons, Gary (Diane) Cardinal and Gerry (Julie) Cardinal; daughter Gail Cardinal; grandchildren, Nicole, Natasha, Craig, Cary and Casey and great grandchildren, Remy and Malachi; sister Arlene (Norman) Struck; brothers: Arvid (Barbara) Vangsness, Charles (Janice) Vangsness and Vernon (Linda) Vangsness as well as other relatives and friends.


Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Elim Lutheran Church in Range. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and for the hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Elim Cemetery.