Clinton Payne, of the Big Bend area, died on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at the Swift Co-Benson Hospital at the age of 85. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday March 1, 2008 at 1:30 PM at Big Bend Lutheran Church with Rev. Tom Opoien officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Friday afternoon and evening with the family present from 5 - 7 PM and a prayer service at 6:45 P.M. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo. Clinton Wallace Payne was born on August 16, 1922 in Grace Township of Chippewa County, MN to Clarence and Mildred (Anderson) Payne. He was baptized on October 15, 1922 at the Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church and was confirmed at Big Bend Lutheran Church. He attended rural school. On October 14, 1947 he was united in marriage to Leona Jacobs at the Big Bend Lutheran Parsonage and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this past fall. They farmed near DeGraff, MN until 1959 when they moved to their current farm near Big Bend. He had only recently become a resident of the Meadow Lane Nursing Home in Benson. Clinton was a long time active member of Big Bend Lutheran Church and served as financial secretary, trustee, on cemetery board and for ten years as the church custodian.. He enjoyed gardening, tending to his sheep, woodworking, canning and making pickles, washing dishes and most of all just visiting. His greatest love was spending time with his family and loved ones. He is survived by two children: Ronald (and Jackie) Payne of Willmar, MN and Cheryl (and Terry) Burmeister of Milan, MN; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers: Russell Payne of Benson, MN and Ray Payne of Hackensack, MN; six sisters: Muriel Payne of New Hope, MN; Doris Neuhaus of Starbuck, MN; Gladys Ervin of Dickinson, ND; Annabel Shaffer of Fridley, MN Florence Eischens of Pine River, MN and Wanda Ahrndt of Renton, WA; as well as by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Leona in 2007; a brother, Orville Payne; and a sister, Bernice Fernholz.