Denise M. Clifton, 59, of St. Cloud, died peacefully of natural causes with her puppy dog companion, Vida, by her side Oct. 28, 2024, at her home in St. Cloud.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Nov. 2 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with the Rev. Gabriel Walz officiating. Interment was in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Ward Springs.
Denise Marion Clifton was born Dec. 29, 1964, to William and Darlene (Jacobs) Ahrens at the Melrose Hospital. Denise grew up on the family dairy farm, near Sauk Centre, where she cultivated her love of baking, gardening and family time. Farm life instilled a strong foundation of hard work and commitment to a job well done, which Denise carried into her adult life as a business owner. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1983 and continued on to the University of Minnesota Crookston, where she earned an associate degree. After college, she briefly lived in Minneapolis where she learned important life lessons and gained invaluable lifelong friends. On July 1, 1989, Denise married the love of her life, Bill Clifton, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Grey Eagle. Bill and Denise lived in Avon before settling roots in Sauk Rapids. There, they welcomed three children: Christina, Jennifer and Grant. Denise gained a bonus son in Billy, when she married his dad, Bill. Her kids were her pride and joy. Through all of life trials and tribulations she always put her children first. Denise instilled strong life skills in her children through many hours spent working side by side for the family carpet cleaning business.
Bill and Denise started the company together in 1996, and Denise continued to keep the company running for 20 years. Even though the company was called the Number One Carpet Man, Denise was the sole proprietor for many years. Denise was a problem solver and dedicated businesswoman who loved her customers like family, and it showed in the successes she maintained as a single working mom.
The only thing Denise loved more than her kids were her grandchildren, Dax, Stella, Koe, Kevin, Evelyn and Olivia. She did everything she could in recent years to feel better and stronger so that she could be there for her family.
Denise loved spending time with friends and traveling to new places, checking out live music and trying new foods. She was well known for her love of cooking and baking, and she collected sugar cookie cutters. Denise had a real green thumb. She nursed plants back to health and tended to huge gardens at each of her homes. She will be remembered for her love for her family, the way she never ever complained and her giant caring heart.
Denise is survived by her children, Billy (Tiffany) Clifton, Christina (Jeremy) Rockenbach Clifton, Jennifer (Jake) Schreiner and Grant (Adrianne) Clifton; grandchildren Evelyn and Olivia Clifton, Dax Rockenbach, Koe Schreiner, Stella Clifton and Kevin Estes; and siblings Deb (Joe) Tauer, Dale (Patsy) Ahrens, Dennis (Nancy) Ahrens, Donna Ringler and Dan (Sara) Ahrens and sister-in-law, Sue Ahrens.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Darlene; and brother Dean Ahrens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.
