Clarice (Cookie) V. Held

Clarice V. Held, 90, of Cando, ND, formerly of Perth, ND, passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Towner County Medical Center in Cando, ND.  

Clarice (Cookie) Veronica Sauvageau Held was born on April 23, 1935, to Francis and Josephine Savageau in Wild Rice, ND, the 13th of 14 children.  Clarice passed peacefully from this life to her Father in Heaven on the morning of November 20, 2025. Clarice grew up in Wild Rice with her many siblings and childhood friends. Her brother gave her the nickname “Cookie” which stayed with her the rest of her life and many people only knew her by her nickname.  Cookie had fond memories of her childhood playing with her brothers and sisters.  She often recalled the time she fell off a hay wagon as a young girl and broke her arm.  The county doctor had her carry a pail of sand after the cast came off to help straighten out her arm.   

Cookie graduated from Saint Joseph High School in Wild Rice in 1953.  She said she enjoyed school and was a good student.  After high school she moved to Fargo. Ironically, she worked for a short time at a local cookie factory.  She then moved on to a job as a switchboard operator at the Northwestern Bell phone company. She made many lifelong friends at the phone company, taking adventures “out west” with her roommates to see the country.  During this time Cookie met her future husband Harvey Held, from Perth ND at a local coffee shop.  They were married on November 7, 1959 at Saint Benedict Catholic Church in Horace, ND.  Cookie then moved to Perth, ND, where she and Harvey raised their family and farmed.

Cookie adapted quickly to her new life in a rural area and had a very busy life on the farm.  

She was an active and dedicated member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.  She belonged to the Ladies Aide, was a Religious Education Teacher, and a member of the Alter Society for many years.  Cookie was known for her beautiful flower garden and her green thumb.  She and Harvey always had a large vegetable garden and she was a prolific home canner.  She also loved to watch birds; her favorites were hummingbirds and cardinals.

She was also a wonderful cook; some favorites were her caramel rolls, buns, sugar pies for the kids, and various homemade candies.  Cookie was a wonderful and loving mother to her five children; Jeff, Susie, Bill, Julie and Renae.  She supported them all through the years.

Cookie spent her final years at the Towner County Living Center in Cando, ND.  She was known for her adaptable personality and adjusted quickly to her new life at the Living Center.  She made many dear friends at the Living Center, both staff and other residents.  

Cookie was preceded in death by her parents and all of her 13 siblings.  She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years Harvey; her children Jeffery, Perth, ND; Susan (Vern) Meidinger, Zeeland, ND; William (Bonnie) Held, Salt Lake City, UT; Julie (Mike) Polzin, Ogden, UT; and Renae (John Jr.) Rebar, Camden, Delaware; her 5 grandchildren John Meidinger; Stephanie and Christopher Held; and Nicholas and Benjamin Polzin.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews who have stayed in touch throughout the years.

Cookie will be missed by all who knew her.  Her family would like to extend a special heartfelt thank you to all the staff at the Towner County Living Center who treated her like a family member.  She was so grateful for their friendship and kindness to her.  

A memorial service will be held in the Spring of 2026.  Memorials may be made to the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Cemetery Fund, Bisbee, ND.