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April 21, 1936-June 27, 2017
CANBY -- Services for Clifford Sillerud, 81, of Canby will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Canby. Burial will be held at a later date. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel, in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.
Clifford James Sillerud was born April 21, 1936, in Roseau, and after 81 years of a full and vibrant life, passed away on June 27 in the Sioux Falls Sanford Hospital. Cliff was the quintessential teacher. He studied education at Bemidji State University, and took his first job teaching Industrial Arts in Ellendale. He worked hard establishing himself in his new profession, but must have wandered beyond his shop because he managed to meet a talented young Home Ec teacher named Lila Lagerstedt. They soon married and relocated to Canby in 1965 and have now been married for nearly 56 years. Thousands of students had Mr. Sillerud as a shop teacher at Canby High School. He loved working with students and helping them reach their potential. As recently as a few weeks ago he was still working with high school students in his backyard shop.
Cliff was also a student. He loved learning new things. He and Lila were avid enrollees at Senior College in Marshall. He was a master carpenter and craftsman and was recently learning the new skill of woodcarving. Cliff did a lot of independent studying, too. He loved reading and learning about a variety of topics: pioneer history, Custer Battlefield, WWII, The Titanic, automotive history, wind energy, immigrants and genealogy were some of his recent interests. Cliff was a coach. Coaching was a role well-suited for his even-tempered personality. Over the years, he served as an assistant Canby high school football coach, as the head coach for the Canby Vo-Tech men's basketball team, and as Canby High School girls' basketball coach when the sport was brand new. Think of the patience that took! He loved the day-in, day-out routine of working with a team and seeing players learn and improve.
Cliff was a loyal friend to people of various ages and backgrounds. Many of Lila and Cliff's close, long-time friends were also teachers who worked hard and played hard together. Cliff loved nothing more than to share a joke, or a story (sometimes a long one) and to engage in conversation with his friends. Cliff was a natural leader. He served many terms on the Canby City Council, and three terms as Mayor. Until very recently Cliff was an active member of the HRA (Housing Redevelopment Authority) Board. He loved Canby, and his 52 years as a resident there have made it a better place. He was known for taking people on driving tours of Canby to show off what was new.
Cliff was an active member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. He went to church every week, served in leadership roles and made OSL a priority in his life. One of his favorite hymns was "I Love to Tell the Story," and his life certainly did. Cliff was 100% Norwegian. His father, E.B. Sillerud, was the Roseau County Sheriff and his mother, Julia Boe Sillerud, was a homemaker. He grew up as the youngest of 5 kids. Because Lila was the oldest of six kids, Cliff got to be a big brother and grew very close to the Lagerstedt family. The words "in-law" were not needed to describe their relationship.
Cliff was a beloved husband, teacher, coach, friend, church member, and family member, but perhaps his best roles were "Dad" and "Grandpa." He freely shared his personality and values with his four children and 12 grandchildren. We will remember him for giving us love, humor, stability, mentorship, opportunity, freedom and boundaries. And really cool go-carts. As he walked the walk he showed us how to live a decent and faithful life. Cliff was dearly loved by his kids and grandkids, and is already deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife, Lila of Canby; children, Kristin (and Al) Rapacz of Billings, MT, Kayla (and Chad) Lubbers of Sioux Falls, SD, Karna (and Mike) VanBuskirk of Sioux Falls, SD and Erik (and Elizabeth) Sillerud, of Billings, MT; along with grandchildren Emily Rapacz, Rachel Rapacz, Leah Rapacz, Jennie Lubbers, Hannah Lubbers, Gracie Lubbers, Bjorn Sellner, Sophia VanBuskirk, Kyle VanBuskirk, Hunter VanBuskirk, Marit Sillerud and Soren Sillerud.
Cliff was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.
Memorials in Cliff's honor may be given to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (108 Haarfager Ave. N. Canby, MN 56220) or The Canby Depot (c/o Carol Gorder 3690 Lakeview Dr. Gary, SD 57237).