Resident of Keystone, SD. Son of Francis and Margaret Clifford. His family moved to Keystone in 1923 and he attended Keystone School. His first job, at age seven, was delivering the Rapid City Journal to about 100 Keystone homes. After completing the required 10 grades, he got a job at the Etta Mine in Keystone. At age 17, he joined the crew that was carving Mount Rushmore and worked there from 1938 to 1940, first as a laborer, and eventually a winchman and driller. He also played on the Rushmore Memorial Baseball Team He was married to Betty Hartwell from Pierre, SD from 1942 to 1966. They had three children: Bette Katherine, Karen Ann, and Donald Eric. He served in WWII from 1942 to 1946, with the last two years in the Europe in the 8th Air Force Signal Corps. After an honorable discharge he learned the dry-cleaning business from his older brother, and opened his own shop, the Custer Cleaners. From 1957 through 1967, he operated the concession at Sylvan Lake Resort in Custer State Park. He married Carolyn Moen in Houston, TX in 1974. While there, he owned a Flaming Pit restaurant franchise and a Tobaccoland franchise. They moved back to Keystone and opened the Dip-A-Lot Ice cream and Sandwich shop. At age 79, he was invited by the Concessionaire at Mount Rushmore to visit with the tourists, answer their questions, and sign his book, which he did until November 7th. Surviving are his wife, Carolyn, of 45 years; daughters, Karen Elliott and Kaye Wesson of Henderson, NV; son, Donald of Tucson, AZ; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; twin great-great-granddaughters. At the time of his death, he was for the past 12 years, the last living carver of Mount Rushmore.
Maternal connection and birth date courtesy of FaG Contributor:
Honoring Our Veterans, No. 47841402
Maternal connection and birth date courtesy of FaG Contributor:
Honoring Our Veterans, No. 47841402
Resident of Keystone, SD. Son of Francis and Margaret Clifford. His family moved to Keystone in 1923 and he attended Keystone School. His first job, at age seven, was delivering the Rapid City Journal to about 100 Keystone homes. After completing the required 10 grades, he got a job at the Etta Mine in Keystone. At age 17, he joined the crew that was carving Mount Rushmore and worked there from 1938 to 1940, first as a laborer, and eventually a winchman and driller. He also played on the Rushmore Memorial Baseball Team He was married to Betty Hartwell from Pierre, SD from 1942 to 1966. They had three children: Bette Katherine, Karen Ann, and Donald Eric. He served in WWII from 1942 to 1946, with the last two years in the Europe in the 8th Air Force Signal Corps. After an honorable discharge he learned the dry-cleaning business from his older brother, and opened his own shop, the Custer Cleaners. From 1957 through 1967, he operated the concession at Sylvan Lake Resort in Custer State Park. He married Carolyn Moen in Houston, TX in 1974. While there, he owned a Flaming Pit restaurant franchise and a Tobaccoland franchise. They moved back to Keystone and opened the Dip-A-Lot Ice cream and Sandwich shop. At age 79, he was invited by the Concessionaire at Mount Rushmore to visit with the tourists, answer their questions, and sign his book, which he did until November 7th. Surviving are his wife, Carolyn, of 45 years; daughters, Karen Elliott and Kaye Wesson of Henderson, NV; son, Donald of Tucson, AZ; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; twin great-great-granddaughters. At the time of his death, he was for the past 12 years, the last living carver of Mount Rushmore.
Maternal connection and birth date courtesy of FaG Contributor:
Honoring Our Veterans, No. 47841402
Maternal connection and birth date courtesy of FaG Contributor:
Honoring Our Veterans, No. 47841402
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