David McLaren

David L. McLaren, 81, Breckenridge , MN , died Wednesday, November 4, 2009, at St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge , MN . The Funeral Memorial Service will be 1:00 PM, Saturday, November 7, at St. Francis Chapel, St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge. There will be gathering of family and friends Friday from 6 PM to 8 PM with a 7 PM Prayer Service at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, and one hour before the service at the St. Francis Chapel on Saturday. Inurnment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Breckenridge , MN . Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, is in charge of arrangements.

David was born April 8, 1928 at Fairdale , ND , the son of Robert and Tina (Swalde) McLaren. He grew up near Langdon , ND . On October 8, 1950 he married Phyllis Bushee at Sacred Heart Church , East Grand Forks , MN . David entered the US Army and they lived in Alabama . They lived in Wahpeton, ND, Durand MI; Ontario , CA , where he cut and sold manzanita wood from the mountains. They then moved to Minneapolis , MN , where he retired from The Bureau of Engraving, and back to California . They returned to Wahpeton where Phyllis passed away September 29, 1996. David then moved to Safety Harbor , Fl to be near family, returning to Breckenridge in 2006.

David loved to play the accordion and play basketball with his grandchildren. David could whistle any tune any time and loved a good laugh and a good joke.

David will be missed by many family and friends including his eight children: Melanie (Fred) Chatterton, St. Louis Park, MN; Cheryl (Larry) Berndt, El Paso, TX; David (Kelly) McLaren, Tampa, Florida; Sandra (Donald) Voorhees, Safety Harbor, Florida; Daniel (Donna) McLaren, Brooksville, FL; Joseph (Diane) McLaren, Ontario, CA; Timothy McLaren, Spring Hill, FL; Thomas (Denise) McLaren, Trinity, Florida; 22 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, his two sisters; Loretta Watt, Osnabrock , ND ; and Ida Dobmeier, Grand Forks , ND .

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Phyllis, and seven brothers and sisters: Emma, Everal, Norman, Irene, Lloyd, Walter “Scottie”, and David.