Gloria E. (Nelson) Clewett

Stanley L. Clewett (age 95) and Gloria E. (Nelson) Clewett (age 92), passed away in succession on March 3, 2023, and June 24, 2023, respectively. True partners throughout their 72 years of marriage, their lives will be celebrated by family at a memorial service in White Bear Lake, MN. Stanley was born April 3, 1927, to Lenard and Florence Clewett in Staples, MN. Lenard was a descendent of James Reuben Clewett and Rose Perry, two of the early European settlers of the Minnesota territory. Stan was very fond of his hometown of Staples and the State of Minnesota, returning many times for vacations and class reunions. Growing up, he held summer jobs on the Northern Pacific Railroad and enjoyed fishing and bird hunting with his dad and brother, Merle. Upon graduating from high school, he attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. He then served four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy, which included active duty in the Korean War. He spent most of his career managing the construction of large electrical generating facilities across the United States, as well as Mexico and Iran. Gloria was born in St. Paul, MN on February 8, 1931, to Rudolph and Ethel Nelson. The Nelson family also descended from early settlers of Minnesota that arrived in the mid/late 1800s from Scandinavia, and homesteaded near Alexandria, MN. The oldest of Rudy and Ethel’s 10 children, Gloria was a loving big sister to her brothers and sisters. The Nelson family moved to Sauk Rapids in the 1940s, where Gloria graduated from high school and then St. Cloud State with a teaching certificate. Following graduation, she became a teacher in Aitken, MN. Like Stan, she also loved her Minnesota heritage and cherished every return visit to the State. Gloria and Stan met on a blind date in 1950 and were engaged several months later. Gloria, her parents and Stan’s parents traveled to San Diego, CA, where Stan and Gloria were married on Christmas Day that same year. Stan sailed to Korea on the destroyer USS Baudell and rose to the rank of Lieutenant JG before his honorable discharge from service. Gloria and Stan were reunited back in the States in Boston and began their lives together. Stan’s career came with frequent moves to the sites of major power plant construction projects. Along the way, Gloria and Stan raised four children, each of whom and their spouses survive them: Leonard (Sarah), Julie (George) Jensen, Carol (Brad) Nix, and Mark (Kristy) Clewett. Stan supported his children’s activities and Gloria was a loving mother. Gloria was a talented pianist who enjoyed playing for her family. She also became an accomplished quilter and produced many beautiful quilts for her family and friends. After retirement, Stan and Gloria settled in Homosassa, FL. They traveled to visit family and returned to Minnesota for extended vacations nearly every year. They enjoyed their final years in Summerville, SC, at The Presbyterian Village of Summerville. In addition to their children, Stan and Gloria are survived by their eight grandchildren: Kyle, Jennifer (Andy), Claire (Kelly), Erica, John (Kendall), Kelly, Brian, Will and Ellen; as well as five great-grandchildren Thomas, Ben, Alex, Claire and Jack. Stan’s brother Merle (Jan) Clewett, and Gloria’s siblings Marilyn (Don) Hill, Elinor Couture, Don (Janet) Nelson, Joann (Curt) Hoganson, John (Nancy) Nelson, Carol Adleman, and David Nelson also survive them. They are preceded in death by their parents, as well as Gloria’s brothers Rudy Jr. and William Nelson.

Gloria E. (Nelson) Clewett

February 8, 1931 - June 24, 2023