Clifford J. Moquist

Clifford J. Moquist age 90 of Crystal, ND died on Monday, December 19, 2005, at the Holmes Regional Hospital, Melbourne, FL. Funeral service will be held on Friday, December 23, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. at the St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Crystal, ND. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 22nd from 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the Jensen-Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services. Burial in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial are preferred to the St. John's Cemetery Fund or the charity of donors choice.
Clifford J. Moquist was born December 15, 1915, at Minneapolis, MN to Andrew and Sophie (Johnson) Moquist, immigrants from Smaaland, Sweden. They lived in Braham, MN, New York City, East Meredith, NY, and Farmingdale, Long Island. He was the first person to leave from Farmingdale as a volunteer under the draft law in November of 1940. During World War II served with the 44th Infantry Division and 726 MP Battalion from 1940 to 1946. First in France and later served in the Pacific on Okinawa getting ready for the invasion of Japan.
On March 20, 1946, he married Elsie Schulz at Crystal. He worked for his father-in-law, Otto Schulz on the family farm. In 1960, along with his two brothers-in-law, formed O.C. Schulz and Sons Inc. a farming and potato wash plant operation in Crystal. Over the years along with his neighbors built the Farmers Elevator, Crystal Oil and Fertilizer, Crystal Chippers, Crystal Café, and Crystal Grocery.
He served Pembina County in the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1970, President of the Red River Valley Potato Growers in 1956, and received their Meritorious Service Award in 1984, Potato Bowl Grand Marshal in 1996, co-chairperson and co-founder of the 726 MP Battalion Association and reunion committee. Also represented ND on the National Potato Council and was named to the American Farm Bureau National Commodity advisory committee. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran serving as chairman, secretary, and elder.
Cliff is survived by sons, Dr. Dale (Carol) Moquist, Missouri City, TX and David (JoAnn) Moquist, Crystal, ND; grandchildren, Erik (Kristen), Darren, Brian, Andrew, Rebecca, Sarah, Emily, and Jonathan; sister, Eva Seaman, Chambersburg, PA.
He was preceded in death by his wife Elsie on March 15, 2002, parents, and one brother.
Clergy: Rev. Bernhard Seter