Clifford Mulder

Clifford Leroy Bonnema Mulder was born to Henry and Arline (Plowman) Bonnema on March 20, 1933, in Holland Township, Minnesota. Cliff’s father passed away when he was 12 years old. When Cliff was 16, his mother married Henry Mulder, who later adopted him. Cliff then chose to take the Mulder surname. He was raised in and around Prinsburg, Minnesota, and attended Prinsburg Christian School. Later, he earned his GED from Clara City High School. At the age of 16, Cliff began working for Duininck Brothers in road construction.

Cliff met his future wife, Helena Vanden Bosch, on a blind date. They were united in marriage on June 1, 1954, at First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota. The couple made their first home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Cliff was stationed during his military service. Two years later, they relocated to Willmar, Minnesota, where they began raising their growing family. After living in Pipestone for seventeen years, they built a log home on an acreage five miles outside of Pipestone. Cliff remained in their home until January 5, 2025, when he moved to the Good Samaritan Society. He passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Pipestone County Hospice House at the age of 93.

On August 13, 1953, Cliff enlisted in the United States Army and served as a Military Police Officer at Fort Carson, Colorado, until receiving his discharge on January 19, 1955. Following his military service, he worked as a police officer in Willmar, Minnesota, for several years before becoming a Minnesota State Trooper. Cliff served with the Minnesota State Patrol for 31 years, retiring in 1988. He began his patrol career in Austin, Minnesota, and in 1962 transferred to Pipestone County, where he remained for the rest of his career.

Cliff had a lifelong interest in radios and communications. Along with his friend Art Hoffelman, he started a two-way radio business in Art’s basement. The business later expanded into its own building and became known as M&H Two-Way Radios. Cliff and Art operated the company together for many years before eventually selling it to their first employee.

An active member of the Christian Reformed Church in Pipestone, Cliff served faithfully as both a Cadet leader and an elder.

He especially enjoyed hunting and fishing and took many trips to Canada, Montana, Michigan, Idaho, and northern Minnesota. His home displayed many hunting trophies, reflecting his deep appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors. That passion also led him to raise elk. Cliff was a founding member and past president of the Minnesota Elk Breeders Association.

Cliff and Helena enjoyed traveling and camping with their family throughout the United States, visiting destinations including Florida, Montana, and Idaho. Many of those trips were taken in a van pulling a fishing boat while the family camped in tents. Eventually, Cliff upgraded their travels with a pop-up camper.

The couple also cherished spending time in Sun City, Arizona, where they visited Cliff’s mother and their daughter, Melody. After years of traveling with a trailer and staying in various trailer parks, Cliff and Helena purchased a home in Sun City in 2009.

Cliff will be lovingly remembered by his children: Jacque (Doug) Halbersma of Pipestone; Lorelei (Arvin) Schelhaas of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Melody Tolliver of Phoenix, Arizona; and Narla (Ron) Hulstein of Edgerton; 11 grandchildren: Jeremy (Rebecca) Schelhaas, Kayla (Eric) Reuer, Travis (Rachel) Schelhaas, Jason (Brittney) Prinsen, Thomas (Krystal) Prinsen, Steven Prinsen, Nicole (Patrick) Bietz, Connie (Todd) Nordell, Vance (Tina) Hulstein, Matthew Tolliver, and Chloé Tolliver; 25 great-grandchildren; as well as his three sisters and one brother.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helena; his parents, Henry Bonnema, Henry Mulder, and Arline Mulder; daughter, Kolleen Mulder; sons-in-law, Joseph Tolliver Jr. and Art Prinsen; granddaughter, Michelle Schelhaas; great-grandson, Isaiah Reuer; and sisters, Sharon Arndt and Vi DeStigter.