Clarence Edward Caraway

Clarence Edward Caraway, was born May 17, 1944 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to George John Caraway and Harriett Winifred (Platner) Caraway.  He attended grade school at Marion Rural Independent, one year of high school at Alburnett Iowa and graduated from Linn Mar High School in Marion Iowa in 1962.  He was active in 4-H and FFA and developed his love for fitting and showing cattle.  He worked at Colonial Bakery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa while helping his dad on the farm.  He moved to Redfield, South Dakota and worked for Walter Schultz and continued his love of Hereford Cattle.  In 1966, he came to Minnesota and was hired at Delaney Herefords as a herdsman where he showed cattle all over the upper Midwest.  On June 8, 1968, he married Mary Elizabeth Delaney.  Through this union they were blessed with six children.  As a family they continued raising and showing Hereford cattle.  Clarence developed a reputation for breeding elite quality Hereford cattle that were competitive at the national level.  He was a mentor for many future generation cattle producers and was respected by his peers.  He has served on many boards; Minnesota Beef Council, Minnesota Grazing Association, Lyon-Lincoln Electric, Minnesota Hereford Association, Minnesota Red Angus Association, and Lincoln County Co-Op Oil, church cemetery board, and church council.  In 2013, Clarence was inducted into the Minnesota Hereford Breeders Hall of Fame.  In 1995, Clarence was looking for a new challenge in the cattle business. He purchased his first Red Angus cattle and quickly became respected by his peers in an additional breed.  In addition to cattle, Clarence enjoyed playing cards with family and friends.  He took great pride in attending his children and grandchildren’s events.  He enjoyed using his creativity to fabricate anything to make life easier and more efficient.  He was very proud that he passed these skills, talents, and passions onto his children and grandchildren.  Clarence was admitted to the Avera Tyler Hospital and passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 surrounded by his loving family.  

He is survived by his wife Mary of fifty-five years.  His six children; Barb (friend Carey) of Baltic, South Dakota, James of San Antonio, Texas, Lori (Fiancé Cory) of Brookings, South Dakota, Mary Kay of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, Corey (Alethea) of Volga, South Dakota, Jon (Blair) of Lexington, Nebraska.  Thirteen grandchildren; Carter Carruthers, Tyler Lacek, Renee Caraway, Cody Caraway, Carson Carruthers, Taylor Lacek, Solomon Caraway, Colby Carruthers, Connor Carruthers, Brady Caraway, Gabrielle Caraway, Parker Caraway, and Meredith Caraway.  Brothers; George (Karen) Caraway and Ken Caraway.  Sister; Mary Sue (Ned) Detert; and many other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents George and Harriett Caraway.