1933-2025
Clifford Earl Leib was born on March 2, 1933, in his family’s rural Guthrie County home to Ottis E. & Ruth I. (Moreland) Leib. His family had moved to the home on March 1, as his mother had inherited it after her father passed and March 1 was the day farm renters moved during that time period. That home place was recognized as a Century Farm in 1976 and is now called the River Ranch. Those original 80 acres remain in the Leib family today, a fact that made Clifford very proud. Clifford attended Seeley #7 through the eighth grade and then went to high school in town, graduating from Guthrie Center High School in 1950.
Clifford was a farm boy through and through. He often commented that his favorite toy growing up was dirt, especially the fine dirt in the driveway. One story he shared was when a hired man was cutting hay with horses in a field near their home, the team stopped and wouldn’t go any further no matter what the hired man did. He then realized the reason —Clifford was playing in the hay field and was in front of the mower.
Clifford worked alongside his dad and brother while growing up. One summer, he wanted to grow watermelons, and while the others were resting after the noonday meal, he spent his time tending them with a manure and water mixture. His efforts were successful, and his family enjoyed watermelon far past the season, after storing them in the granary to protect them from freezing. While the outside didn’t keep, the hearts were good well into the winter.
Education was important in the Leib family. Clifford’s mother had been a teacher before marrying, and his dad worked with him to make sure he learned his multiplication tables during country school. After high school, Clifford attended The Commercial Extension School of Commerce in Omaha, graduating in 1951. He studied accounting, and for some spending money, he worked in the Mutual of Omaha cafeteria where he got good supper meals. On the weekends, he also worked on a construction site. Afterwards, he returned home and began farming with his dad and brother again, starting a large herd of sheep, which his dad took care of when he went into the United States Army in May 1953.
He first went to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, then Fort Belvoir in Virginia where he went to Engineers School. After finishing near the top of his class, he went to Germany where he drove a truck for his unit that built bridges. He made lifelong friendships in the Army. He also traveled to Denmark to meet the extended Langgaard family, who were neighbors back home. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
While in the Army, he started exchanging letters with Dorothy Kuper with the encouragement of two of their friends. They met in person before he went to Germany and continued to correspond. On Feb. 10, 1957, they were engaged and married on the very warm evening of Sunday, Aug. 11, 1957, in Ackley. After the wedding, they made their home on a farm north of Guthrie Center, referred to as the Hess Place.
Their family grew while living there with the births of Mary Ellen, Ann Marie and Beth June. In December 1962, they moved up the road to the house that became their home for the next 46 years. In 1967, Sara Jo, arrived completing their family. Clifford and Dorothy bought their final home on Oak Street in August 2007, moving to town in 2008.
Clifford loved his family of women. Many evenings, he came into the home for supper exclaiming, “Here I am, you lucky women!” He had a great sense of humor and was just plain ornery. He liked to joke and tease with his family, giving his girls a taste of what it would be like to have a brother. He made a special noise to get the girls moving up the stairs at bedtime that would still make them get a move on today. And putting his face into the screen of a kitchen window as he came in for supper would get the girls to shriek.
Clifford continued to farm and started raising hogs and cattle along with the row crops and the sheep. Known for wearing Key Imperial striped bib overalls, he worked hard and put in long days, as farmers do, putting his family’s needs ahead of his own. He sold DeKalb seed corn for 25 years beginning in 1962. It was an exciting day when the truck would deliver the many bags stored in the corn crib with planter plates decorating the walls. And then again when other farmers came to pick up their orders. Always a tall man, watching him easily swing his leg over the fence to feed the cattle north of their home with his strong voice calling, “Come, Boss” is a favorite memory of the girls.
The young family became members of the First United Presbyterian Church in Guthrie Center in 1959. Clifford was a devoted member and served as an elder throughout the years. Many family friendships were made at church and continue to be strong today. Both Clifford and Dorothy were awarded a “Faithful Through the Years” award by the Presbytery of Des Moines in 2016. In June 2025, he was honored as the oldest member at the church’s 150th anniversary service.
A farmer never really retires, and that was true for Clifford. Even after renting out his farmland more than 25 years ago, he continued to help wherever he was needed. He especially enjoyed being part of the harvest crew. After moving to town, he still spent his days going to the country.
In the 1990s, his Army buddies started an annual reunion, which Clifford enjoyed immensely. They traveled to Missouri, Kentucky and Colorado to reminisce and make new memories. The group even traveled to Iowa so that Clifford and Dorothy could share their home with them. After the calves sold in January during their retirement, they also traveled to Arizona for more than 30 years to spend time with Mary and Steve’s family. Being present for special events of their family, especially their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, brought smiles to their faces.
Throughout his life, Clifford was devoted to his family including his extended family. While he quietly went about the business of getting things done, he still made time for them and made sure that all of his daughters were able to attend college. He loved a good story or joke, and there was nothing better than hearing his deep laughter echo through the house. He had friendships with people of all ages and won the respect of many. While his success in life wasn’t flashy, those who really knew him know that he was one of the most successful people they will ever have had the pleasure to know.
As the years passed, health issues made it harder to do the things he loved, yet he carried on. Planting a garden and flowers at the townhouse helped fill his heart and love for the land. In recent years, a ride in the country to see his farms and to see what others were doing always lifted his spirits. He loved sharing that time with his family and telling stories along the way.
Clifford passed away peacefully on Aug. 12, 2025, at The New Homestead in Guthrie Center.
Clifford is survived by four of his “better” daughters: Mary (Steve) Fogleman, Douglas, Arizona; Ann (Lewis) Polito, Hartford; Beth Leib (Lori Requist), Urbandale; and Sara (David) Hughes, New Virginia. Also surviving are six grandchildren: Jennifer (Isaac) Chavez, Stockton, California; Trevor Polito, Hartford; Brandon Polito, Hartford; Rebekah Fogleman, El Paso, Texas; Joshua Hughes (Jack Ave), Des Moines; and Jacob Hughes, New Virginia; and four great-grandchildren: Neva Rose, Kaylee Elise, Olivia Joy, and Nathaniel John Chavez, Stockton, California, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; parents, Ottis and Ruth (Moreland) Leib; siblings, Roger (Rosemary) Leib, Beverly (Max) Uhlman, Joy (William) Scarbrough; and nephew-in-law, Alvin Sheeder; in-laws John and Marie Kuper; Mildred (Lawrence) DeWalt, Kenneth (Annie) Kuper, and Ruth (Bud) Murphy; niece, Debra (DeWalt) Peyton; nephews-in-law, Alois Vitasek and Craig Jensen.
Family members will be present for a visitation to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 701 State St., Guthrie Center. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. also at the church with a luncheon following.
Memorials will be distributed at the discretion of the family.