Cleo Tergerson

Cleo Tergerson, age 89, of Clifton passed away Friday evening in Clifton. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Friday, December 30, 2016 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Cranfills Gap with Pastor Herb Lammert officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial at Rock Church Cemetery.

He was born in the Mustang Community near Cranfills Gap,Texas on September 11, 1927 to Clarence and Drucilla Tergerson. Upon graduating Cranfills Gap High School he joined the Merchant Marines and served until 1945. He then enlisted in the Army and served in the Philippines until 1947. He married Nelda Swenson June 27, 1948.

Armed with a tremendous work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit, Don and Nelda moved to Midland in 1949 where he began marketing eggs to local grocery stores. That business grew into Tergerson Fine Foods and eventually Phoenix Fine Foods, a wholesale food distributorship supplying restaurants, schools and healthcare facilities in Midland-Odessa and throughout West Texas.

Don was a faithful servant to God and his community. He was a founding member of Midland Lutheran Church serving on numerous boards and committees. He was a member of the Midland Lions Club with 25 years of perfect attendance. He was also a member of Green Tree Country Club where he enjoyed many rounds of golf with his friends. He was a co-founder of Community National Bank of Midland and served on the Board of Directors. He served on the Texas Egg Council for four years, and served on the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Sunset Home in Clifton, Texas.

After retirement Don and Nelda built a home in the country near Cranfills Gap. Don loved living on TooBigga Ranch, fulfilling a dream to return to his roots and live in the countryside he so loved. They reestablished membership at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Cranfills Gap Chamber of Commerce, and a supporter of the Bosque Arts Center and the Bosque Museum.

Don was a fabulous host and lots of fun, but above all, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather. His character and reputation reflected his high moral standards, devotion to God, to his family and his fellow man. He will be greatly missed.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Nelda, daughter Cindy Tergerson Thompson, his parents Clarence and Drucilla Tergerson and his brother Lonnie Tergerson.

He is survived by his daughter Debbie Baird and husband Kenny of Georgetown; daughter Carla Frazier and husband Jay of Dallas; son Donnie Tergerson and wife Krista of Lubbock; grandchildren Gannon Baird and wife Kellie, Keegan Baird, Kelsi, Madison and Tristan Tergerson; three great grandchildren; sister Sue Vanderford, sister-in-Law Charlene Tergerson and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Olaf's Lutheran Church, 402 Meridian Street, Cranfills Gap, TX 76637 or the charity of your choice.

Services are under the direction of Clifton Funeral Home.