Clarene Iverne Mitchell, passed away Jan. 18, 2012. She was born June 22, 1932, at the family farm in York, N.D., to Kristin L. Sandven and Bertha (Thompson) Sandven.

She graduated from Leeds Public School as Valedictorian and went on to Concordia College and later earned her teaching degree from North Dakota Agriculture College located in Fargo, N.D. (Now North Dakota State University).

She taught at Lakota, OaKes and Vernon, N.D. She married Donald Lee Mitchell in 1957 and they moved to Wallace in 1966. She then began her teaching career at Wallace School District teaching secondary home economics. In 1975 they moved to Rose Lake and Clarene continued to teach in Wallace until an illness during that summer. She then retired from the Wallace School District in 1977.

Don preceded her in death in 1978. Clarene moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1986. She loved to cook, sew and play the piano. In her latter years, she really looked forward to summer vacations with her two sisters and driving back to the farm.

Clarene in survived by her two sons: Keith (Lori) Mitchell of Coeur d'Alene and Greg Mitchell of Kalispell, Mont.; three grandchildren: Tyler, Brad and Briana; two sisters: Lorraine Sandven of Tucson, Ariz., and Ruthie (Virgil) Volk of Tigard, Ore.; as well as a niece, nephews and many extended family members.

Memorial contributions may be made in Clarene's name to The Union Gospel Mission of Kootenai County, P.O. Box 4066, Spokane, WA, 99220-0066.

Clarene will be laid to rest with her late husband, Don Mitchell, at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg at a later date. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, has been entrusted to handle the final arrangements. Please visit Clarene's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.