Clifton Varner

Funeral Service for Clifton Varner, 85, of Baker will be held at 11:00 am Monday, October 13, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home with Don Buerkle officiating. Burial will follow at Bonnievale Cemetery.

Visitation will be 10:00-11:00 am Monday, October 13, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home.

Clifton passed away on October 7, 2025 at Billings Clinic.

Born September 1, 1940 to William and Annetta (Grow) Varner. Clifton attended school in Baker. He was married Kay Moline September 17, 1960. Deborah ”Debbie” was born in 1963 and Melvin ”Mel” was born in 1973. The family lived in Baker for seventeen years then purchased land northwest of Baker in 1974. They made this home and built up the homestead for the past fifty one years.

He worked for Ambrose and LaVonne Thielen on the farm as a teenager and then various people driving truck and doing oilfield work before going to work for MDU which later became WBI, he worked there until his retirement in 2003. There wasn’t a problem that he couldn’t figure out with enough paper and time to think and re-think the problem.

After retirement he managed his cow herd and did many home improvement projects and helped with grandkids as possible.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, bowling, team roping and golfing. He was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan till the end, he was able to attend five Thanksgiving Day Cowboys games at AT&T Stadium with family members, and one pre-season game in Denver.

He retired from the Baker Volunteer Fire Department after 28 years. He was a member of the IBEW union on which he served on the negotiating committee for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years Kay Varner, children Debbie (Bill) Wyrick; Mel Varner; grandchildren Kalli (Dallen) Madsen; Duncan Wyrick; Hailee Varner; Ashlynn Varner; great-grandchildren Mallorie and Brooks Madsen, sister-in-law Alvina Varner, numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by both parents William and Annetta and stepfather William Beck, sisters Lavonne(Ambrose) Thielen and Leota Varner, brothers Herb and Jim Varner, infant son Clifton Jacob Varner, granddaughter Morgan Wyrick.