Clifford Daniel Lehmann

Clifford Daniel Lehmann, 101, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at CHI Lisbon Health. 

Born in Barnesville, MN on October 22, 1916, he was the son of Daniel and Ellen (Carlson) Lehmann and the youngest of nine children.

Cliff graduated from Barnesville High School, and soon thereafter met his wife-to-be, Rena Bunde, while singing in the church choir in Barnesville.

Cliff joined the US Army Air Force in 1941, a week after Pearl Harbor was attacked.  He became a tail gunner and flew combat missions with pilot Donald “Deke” Slayton (one of the original 7 Mercury astronauts) in Asia during World War II.  Cliff was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946 and returned to Barnesville where Rena was waiting for him.

Cliff and Rena were married on August 18, 1946 in East Walle Church in Thompson, ND, Rena’s home church.

After the wedding they moved to Fargo, ND where Cliff worked for Black’s Store Without A Name in the interior decorating department and then as a clothing buyer.  In 1951, they purchased the Ben Franklin Store in Lisbon, ND, running their business for 32 years until retirement in 1983.

Cliff was a very active member of Trinity Lutheran Church.  He served on the committee that selected and purchased the property for the current location of Trinity. 

Cliff leaves behind 2 daughters Cheryl (Milton) Mill of St. Louis, MO and Rebecca Lehmann-Sprouse (Jeff Sprouse) of Stonington, CT; 4 grandchildren, Christopher Mill, Andrew Sprouse, Daniel Sprouse and Rachel Sprouse; a niece Marcene Briest, Spencer, IA and nephew Howard Stempson, Palm Desert, CA

Funeral Service: Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisbon, ND. Visitation: One hour prior to service at the church.Interment will be 3:00 p.m. at Barnesville City Cemetery, Barnesville, MN.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clifford Daniel Lehmann, please visit our floral store.