George Clifton, age 79, of Huron, died Wednesday, August 31, 2005, at St. Marys Hospital at Rogers, AR. His funeral service will be at 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 6th at the Congregational United Church of Christ with Rev. Brian Grover officiating. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council. Friends may call Monday afternoon and evening at the Welter Funeral Home or prior to the service at the church Tuesday morning. George William Clifton was born on October 18, 1925, in Wessington Springs to Jonathen Jack and Ferne (McFarling) Clifton. He attended school in Wessington Springs. On June 22, 1947 he married Leanna Thompson at Templeton Church of rural Wessington Springs. As a teenager, George worked at Habichts in Wessington Springs. He joined the United States Air Force in 1946 and was honorably discharged in 1947. He then returned to Wessington Springs and farmed for two years. He worked for Martin Beach on a REA line construction crew and lived throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Montana during those 9 years. He finally settled in Huron in 1954. He worked for Charlie Burmood and Walt Ball at the Huron Airport until 1967 and continued to work for the City of Huron at the Airport plowing snow in the winter and mowing in the summer on a part time basis. In 1967 he began his job at State Police Radio as a dispatcher and retired in 1987. George loved to go to Lake Byron in the summer and built a home there in 1973 so he could enjoy being there year round. After his retirement in 1987, he began going to Donna, Texas for the winter months and continued until his death. He has spent the last 4 summers in Rogers, Arkansas. George was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ, a 59-year member of the American Legion, 40/8, and the South Dakota Peace Officers Association. Some of Georges favorite pastimes were: doing jigsaw puzzles, biking and looking at any construction sites, boating, playing shuffleboard, and traveling. George is survived by his children; Georgiana (Charles) Ferry of Yokohama, Japan; Gary Clifton of San Leandro, California; Loren Clifton of Haley, Idaho; and Lesa (Nolan) Wipf of Hitchcock; four grandsons; David and Brian Ferry and Brandon and Spenser Wipf; a very special friend, Irene Little of Rogers, Arkansas; two sisters, Marcella Leonard of Burlingame, California and Doris (Myron) Mebius of Plankinton; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Leanna in 1995, a brother Jackie, two brothers-in-law, George Long and Emery Leonard; and a nephew, Terry Mebius. Pallbearers will be: David and Brian Ferry, Brandon and Spenser Wipf, Mike, Kim, and Tom Mebius. A TRIBUTE TO GEORGE CLIFTON By Pat Rippetoe Mr. Organization: George always had his things packed in the car ready to make the trip to south Texas two weeks ahead of time, while Mother was still deciding what she wanted to take. The route was planed and written out on a cereal box cardboard placed in the pocket behind the car seat. The Inspector: We will have to read the paper now to find out what new buildings are going up. George rode his bicycle around to view the new construction sites and could always tell us what hotel or restaurant was going to be where. Mother teased him about inspecting the sites to make sure they were doing things right. George loved to travel but no interstate highways for him. He always looked at the map and found a scenic route to take. He would vacuum the house or trim the shrubs without being asked. He could make a good pot of spaghetti. He will be missed on the shuffleboard courts in south Texas. Someone else will have a chance now to win some of those trophies. He liked to go to Sunday breakfast at the Springdale airport or some of the surrounding small towns like Gentry or Gravette. George always had a puzzle in progress. He was the most organized puzzle solver you ever saw. He would organize and lay out the pieces and match certain areas of each puzzle. He would date the box so he knew exactly when and how many times he had put each puzzle together. He didn't have any great-grandchildren of his own, but he loved visiting Mother's great-grandchildren. He was part of the family at Daniel's wedding last year. Little Seth always said their names together--Mema and George. He had a sense of humor. He tied a toy dog to the car and made it appear it was a real animal while the car was under the carport. He joked about having the dog ready for the trip. He liked to cross the border into Mexico when they were there for the winter. A good time was to go over to eat. George loved his family and was very proud of them--daughter Georgiana and husband Chuck, son Gary, son Loren, daughter Lesa and husband Nolan, and his four grandsons, David, Brian, Brandon and Spenser. He will be missed by them. George will also be missed by his dear friend Irene, her daughter Pat and husband Larry, the four grandchildren--Kenneth, Angela and husband Lann, Daniel and wife Maria, Eric and wife Andrea, and four great-grandchildren--Coeli, Elisha, Seth and Emalie.