Clifford Paul Hodgson

Clifford Paul Hodgson, 97, died July 24, 2015, leaving a legacy of love, strength, dignity, and humor. He was the grandson of two pioneering Colorado families. His father’s parents, Jonathan and Naomi Jones Hodgson came from Linn County Kansas to Colorado in a covered wagon in 1882. His mother’s parents, Louis (Kohler) and Anne Madsen Hansen came to Colorado from Bornholm, Denmark in 1883. Both families settled in the Boulder Valley.

Clifford was born in his grandfather Jonathan’s farmhouse, on the corner of 95th and Arapahoe Road in Boulder, Colorado, on October 1, 1917. During his entire life, he never lived any further than 4 miles from his birthplace until moving to Longmont in 1997. A year after he was born, his dad bought a farm just east of his parents which he kept for four years. Then he bought a farm by the Valmont Power Plant where the Jones-Donley Ditch is. In 1925, the family moved to a farm at 3280 95th where his parents Paul and Clara Hansen Hodgson remained for 60 years until their death. Clifford grew up with his two brothers, Russell and Elden. They were farm boys so knew hard work on the beet farm, but also had lots of boyhood fun.

He attended Davidson School through the ninth grade, and then, to his sorrow, had to quit and help his father on the farm. He earned his GED at age forty-one, completing an important life goal.

Clifford and his true love, Sylvia King, met at the Boulder Grange Hall as babies, and they became lifetime members of that Grange, joining in 1940. They started dating when they were sixteen. Clifford bought a used 1928 Chevy coup with a cloth top for $100 from money he made shoveling beets. He dolled his car up with mud flaps and added 100 red and green lights. What stories he had to tell about that car and his dates with Sylvia.

When he and Sylvia Mae King married, March 7, 1937, they moved to 7996 Valmont Drive where Sylvia grew up. Her parents sold them part of their land. It was part of the old King homestead. At first they were farming with horses, and in 1940, they got an old John Deere tractor. That same year their son Rod was born, and Dot arrived three years later.

Clifford was a born farmer and hard worker. He would get up at 4:00 every morning, put horses in the barn to feed them, milk cows by hand, feed chickens and pigs, eat breakfast, and be in the field farming by 7:00. At one time he was farming over 200 acres of flood-irrigated land, and his crops were diversified corn, wheat, barley, and oats. In 1950, he and his dad also bought a cattle ranch in Roosevelt National Forest above James(Jim)town. They owned the ranch until 1961 and retained possession for three years to disperse of the cattle. The land was later sold to Calwood.

Along with farming and running the ranch, Clifford was a school bus driver for Boulder Valley Schools for 21 years, retiring in 1980. He was president and supervisor of the Butte Irrigating and Milling Company and superintendent of the Jones-Donley Ditch, until resigning from the board in 1995.

A lifetime member of the Boulder Elks Lodge #566, joining in 1944, he attended meetings, loved playing pool, and on most Saturday nights, he and Sylvia would be there dancing with friends. They also enjoyed square dancing for twenty years with Country Cousins. A great memory was dancing on an episode of TV’s Route 66.

His favorite hobbies have included hunting, fishing, dancing, spending time with family and at his Red Feather cabin, golfing, and travelling. Before macular degeneration developed in his 70’s, robbing him of much of his eyesight, he used to love playing cards. They spent several winter months each year in Mesa, Arizona at Val Vista Village after their retirement.

There will be a Celebration of Clifford’s life on August 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Crist Mortuary, Boulder, Colorado. Clifford’s nephew Darryl Hodgson will officiate.

Sylvia preceded him in death in 2012. He leaves his son Rodney Hodgson (Donna); daughter Dot Keatley; five grandchildren: Nikki Hodgson Mosley (Mike); Brandy Hodgson (Arthur Judson); Paula Hodgson (Bob Klein); Todd Keatley (Shawna Washburn); and Connie Keatley; nine great grandchildren: Conor, Mason and Maggie Mosley; Gage and Caden Keatley; Soleil, River, and Jasper Judson Hodgson; Chaz Washburn; and close friends and relatives. His spirit is a part of us all, and he has left a meaningful impact on our hearts and lives.

In fulfillment of his wishes, memorial contributions can be made in Clifford’s name to Laradon Hall (Elks supported), Halcyon Hospice, or the charity of your choice. Please visit www.cristmortuary.com to leave condolences.