Clair Joe Porter, 96, died on Aug. 11, 2008, at his home in Racine, Minn. He was born Jan. 1, 1912, son of William Joel and Cora Ellen Mayhlery Porter in Reno County. He graduated from Abbyville High School in Abbyville. Clair was the owner-operator of Utility Sales and Engineering in Rochester, Minn. for many years and retired in 1975.

He married Bernice E. Mitchell on June 3, 1932, in Hutchinson. She died on Jan. 15, 1992. Clair later married Mary Magnussen on March 19, 1995 in San Diego. They lived in Rochester for a couple of years and moved to Racine, Minn. in 1996. She survives. Clair was an avid gardener.

Survivors include: a son, Michael and his wife Mary, Gardnerville, Nev., a daughter, Jan Linehan and husband Paul, Boise, Idaho, daughter, Gina Baltes, Rolling Meadows, Ill., son, Steven Baltes and wife Chris, Santa Ana, Calif., daughter, Vickie Tripoli, Vista, Calif., daughter, Lisa Cadenas and husband Ricardo, Oceanside, Calif., two sisters, Janice Strothman, Wichita, and Maxine Nethercat, North Little Rock, Ark.; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and four sisters.

Funeral Service will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at Elliott Chapel, with Pastor Don Engle presiding. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Elliott Mortuary. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson. Memorials may be sent to donor's choice in care of the mortuary. Friends may visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.