Cletus L. "Clete" McGovern

My deepest condolences go out to the McGovern family. I was unaware of his passing and missed it in the obits. Hap corbett told me at my friend Pudge mothers wake Fri. night.When I joined the band Father Burns was still directing. Not long after Clete and his clan came to direct and play. He, as did the band played an important part of my life.We had Hubert Humphrey on the bus one time at a parade in savage.Clete and Humphrey in the same room, need I say more. He was a tough director but was...

I just wanted to add one here and thank all of you that knew my dad in his earley years and ones that knew him in his later years.

He was truely a great man, wonderful dad, awsome Graps to all of us. We will miss him but it helps knowing that now he can keep both his eyes on all 12 of us kids, 21 grandkids and 7 great grand-babies.

My Dad lived his life to the fullest and always talked about the news papers he worked for, the band (of course!!!), the different people and how...

My deepest sympathies to all the McGovern family - both related - and those that were part of his extended family as director of the St. Lawrence Band.

I started at the lowest rung of the ladder on clarinet, and with his insistence on excellence worked my way up the "chain". I always remember that he always wanted our concert pieces to sound like a symphony - not just a band. Though clarinets have to breathe and violins don't - his enthusiam always made us give it our...

Heaven has recieved a new band director. Clete helped introduce me to the world of the "Band Geeks". He taught me to read music and to love the sax. He found me an old 1925 Conn and I played it with much pride. He was the craziest band director I had ever known and will ever know. I have so many great memories of the summers spent marching in parades, holding our own parade after the real on was finished, jamming on the streets, the annual Christmas Concert and Show, the trip to Washington,...

8/26/2008
To the McGovern Children, along with Moms, Susan and Pat, I send thoughts of peace and comfort.
I know you are celebrating at St. Lawrence this morning and I will be there in spirit.
There is no pain, difficulty or discomfort, for Clete anymore, and many blessings are being enjoyed. The spirit and dedication He showed to so many HUNDREDS of kids growing up in the band, helped to form many lives. He, "Ma and Pa Schardin" and many more proceeding him, will have their own...

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the McGovern family! I fondly remember the first year we lived at 1405 - 29th Ave NE and Clete baked Christmas cookies and brought them over to Eric, Lisa and I. YUM!! I will also always remember how Clete took pride in his hill garden and inspired me to create mine after the my new garage was added. Now the entire neighborhood is beautiful due to Clete's inspiration! I'm sure glad we got to know Clete, Sue, Leslie & Theresa because they were great...

No one will miss Clete more than his children and grandchildren, but his St.Lawrence Band legacy extends to literally hundreds of us who were teens 50+ years ago when he was our band director. We didn't give it much thought back then, but his time and enthusiasm were all given to us from his heart, with no pay whatsoever.
It was wonderful that he was well enough 3 years ago to enjoy the great band reunion, and all the conversations about the best times of our youth - courtesy of a very...