Clarence Leth

Clarence Leth, 93, of St. Paul, died Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Thomas Clark will officiate. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul, with graveside military honors by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be Wednesday at the church from 5 to 7 p.m.. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Leth was born on Sept. 12, 1920, in rural St. Paul, the son of Chris and Selma (Jorgensen) Leth. He was united in marriage to Meta F. “Mamie” Helzer, on June 6, 1942, at Glendale, California. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mamie Leth of St. Paul; two sons, Douglas and Vicki Leth of Grand Terrace, CA and Rance Leth of Canyon Lake, CA. He also leaves to cherish his memory, two grandsons, Ross Leth and Truitt Leth. Clarence attended Howard County rural school District No. 55 and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1936. He then worked for area farmers and with harvesting crews that traveled around to surrounding states. In 1941, he moved to California and went to work for Douglas Aircraft Corp. He enlisted in the United States Navy of Oct. 7, 1942. During his military service he was stationed in Guadalcanal for 15 months. He was honorably discharged on Oct 19, 1945, at the conclusion of World War II. After the War, he and Mamie returned to St. Paul where he worked as a carpenter with his father. In 1949, the couple took over Knothe's Cafe and operated it as Leth's Cafe for four years. In 1954, they purchased McIntyre's IGA grocery store, changing the name to Leth's IGA, which they ran for 31 years until their retirement in 1985. Clarence was a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church of St. Paul. He was also a charter member of St. Paul Country Club, a 60 year member of Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 and a longtime member of the St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department. Clarence was an avid hunter and fisherman for most of his life. He also loved golfing, gardening, growing roses and yard work. He also loved to build things in his workshop and was quite creative in the things he could do. He was a loving husband and loved to teach his boys various sports, rarely missing a game when they were growing up. He will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Virgil Leth; one sister, Georgia Mae Bauer; one half brother, Aaron Leth; and two half sisters, Lillian Courtney and Edna Dobish. Memorials are suggested to Christ Lutheran Church or to the family's choice.