A Mass of Christian Burial for Cletus Freking, age 93, of Heron Lake will be held Wednesday, October 29th at 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. Full military honors will be provided by the Joseph Suding American Legion Post 386 of Dundee. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Heron Lake.

A visitation for Cletus will be held on Tuesday evening, October 28th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. Visitation will continue on Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake for one hour prior to the funeral Mass.

Cletus William Freking was born on July 26, 1932, in Heron Lake, Minnesota, to the late William and Olive (Luft) Freking. Cletus received the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, Holy Communion, confirmation, and marriage at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School and Heron Lake High School, where he graduated in the Class of 1950. Cletus enrolled at the University of Minnesota and earned a degree in agriculture. In 1952, Cletus was drafted to the United States Army, where he served in Washington D.C., during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged and returned home to farm.

On April 18, 1964, Cletus was united in marriage to Fidelis Liepold at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake. The couple was blessed with four children, Lynn, Alan, Jill, and Mona. Cletus worked in agriculture all his life, raising hogs and crops. After retirement, Cletus transitioned his love of the land to gardening.

Cletus and Fidelis shared good times and laughter with friends, especially at dances, weddings, and community events. They played cards whenever friends and family gathered, and you could be assured that libations would flow with a game of 500 or Tarock that would last into the night. Cletus enjoyed attending sporting events and activities of his kids and grandchildren, and he always welcomed a game of cribbage. He was the eternal optimist, faithfully cheering on the Minnesota Vikings, Twins and Gophers. Cletus and Fidelis enjoyed driving the Yukon Highway to Alaska for several years, pulling their fifth wheel camper with Carroll and Carolyn, to enjoy summers camping, sightseeing and salmon fishing.

As a lifetime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cletus taught CCD and was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was active in the Heron Lake community and was a longtime member of the Jackson County Pork Producers, served on the Heron Lake School Board, and was a proud 70-year member of the Heron Lake and later the Dundee American Legion Posts.

On October 25, 2025, Cletus passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Society- Sogge Memorial in Windom, at the age of 93 years.

Left to cherish his loving memory, are his wife of 61 years, Fidelis Freking of Heron Lake; children, Lynn (Rick) Larson of Stillwater, Alan Freking of Heron Lake, Jill (Dennis) Gartner of Mankato, and Mona (Michael) Buisker of Britton, SD; five grandchildren, Alan (Sarah) Larson, Eric Larson, Sara Gartner, Matthew Gartner, and Grace Ouellette; sister, Bonnie Hagge of Heron Lake; brothers, Delbert Freking of Heron Lake, Carroll (Carolyn) Freking of Round Lake, and Richard (Dianne) Freking of Heron Lake; as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.

Cletus was preceded in death by his parents, William and Olive Freking; brothers, Dennis (Bonnie) Freking and Bruce Freking; parents-in-law, Walter and Agatha Liepold; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Roland Pomerenke, Lauren Hagge, Rita Mae (Robert) Koster, and June Freking.

May Cletus rest in the eternal peace of Christ.