Betty Clarke
January 9, 1929 ~ May 7, 2012
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Betty Clarke, 83, of Miller, formerly of Wessington, died Monday, May 07, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Center in Miller. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 11 at the Wessington Presbyterian Church with Pastor Scott Spiehs officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, May 10 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Wessington Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at the Wessington Cemetery.
Little did Betty Severson know that when she left Dunn Center, ND in the early 1940s with her mother and sister and went to the home of Gus Liebnow in Sand Creek Township south of Wessington, that she would spend the rest of her life in the Wessington area.
Betty?s father, Sever Severson, had died in Dunn Center when she was eleven years old. She was born in a small house in Dunn Center on January 9th 1929. She was introduced to her brothers and sisters in a small grape basket after her birth. As a young girl, she hired out to help neighboring farmer?s wives during those tough times in North Dakota. Even at a young age she was attracted to dancing ? and would hop the train to Kildeer to attend dances. Betty loved to polka and that music would get her feet to tapping.
She married the love of her life ? Roy Oliver Clarke of Wessington on September 26, 1946. He was one of two suitors invited to a Sunday fried chicken dinner by her mother, Gertrude Dinehart Liebnow. Roy was the one chosen.
After their marriage they moved to a farm 2 miles southwest of Wessington. The house had no electricity or running water. She cooked on a small kerosene stove. Her husband was a good provider and before long they had electricity, a crank phone, water in the house, and a cook stove.
Their first son, Ronald Roy was born in 1949. He was followed by another son, Bruce Harry, born in 1952. A daughter was born in 1955 ? Vernetta Louise.
During the early years of their marriage they enjoyed card clubs and square dancing. In the late 1960s snowbird fever hit. They spent many winters traveling in the southern states with friends (the Graysons and the Johnsens). Later they choose Mesa, AZ for their winter home and returned home to work in the garden during the summers.
Family was important to Betty. She loved connecting with her many brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and other family members across the country from Wisconsin to Oregon to California to Arizona, while never forgetting her roots in the breaks of the Missouri River near Dunn Center.
She and Roy were blessed with nine grandchildren and now have 11 great grandchildren. They all have the same strong work ethic given to them by their grandparents.
Every fall as pheasant hunting approached, Betty looked forward to the Shilling boys coming to hunt. Since the early 1940s the Clarke family had hosted hunters and she carried on the tradition. Her kitchen was the scene for delicious smells of pheasant steak, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn and other yummies like Betty?s buns.
When the Lutheran church came to Wessington in the early 1950 she and Roy were part of the first class to be members of Concordia Lutheran. She spent many years as part of the Ladies Aid and Sunday School. Singing the old hymns was definitely a love of hers.
Betty and Roy definitely have experienced the great life,through drought, floods, trials, sickness, and hard work, God blessed them with prosperity and more than 66 years of marriage. Their dedication and love is admired by their family and friends. Betty entered the Good Samaritan Home in Miller in 2007.
Those remaining include her husband, Roy Clarke of Miller, SD.
Son - Ron & Joni Clarke ? Bellwood, NE Their children & grandchildren: Justin and Megan Clarke & sons Jack and Alex in Southlake, TX; Derek Clarke in Chicago, IL; Jared and Andrea Clarke and children Addison, Molly, and Alaina in Omaha, NE; Josh & Shayla Sexton and daughter Sawyer of Lincoln, NE
Son - Bruce and Karen Clarke ? Wessington, SD Their children and grandchildren: Dustyn and Lindsey Clarke and children Jeramy, Mackenzie, Jordan of Miller, SD; Darin and Angela Clarke and children Logan and Alaina of Nora Springs, IA
Daughter - Vernetta LeGrand and Mike Wuestewald ? Wessington and her children: Louise LeGrand of St Paul, MN, Lisa and Rob Mongone of St Paul, MN, and Josh LeGrand of Ft Pierre, SD
She has a sister ? Minnie (Richard - deceased) Hein of Wolsey, brothers Roy (Kay) Severson of Mandan, ND, Harold Nelson of Miller, SD, and Doran (Loraine) Nelson of Clifton Park, NY. Her brothers in laws include: Lester & Charlotte Clarke Aberdeen, SD, Donald & Jean Clarke Wessington, SD and Ralph (deceased) and Bernice Clarke of Miller, SD
Those who have passed are parents Sever Severson and Gertrude Dinehart Nelson Severson Liebnow and step dad Gus Liebnow. 6 brothers and 8 sisters preceded her in death also.
Little did Betty Severson know that when she left Dunn Center, ND in the early 1940s with her mother and sister and went to the home of Gus Liebnow in Sand Creek Township south of Wessington, that she would spend the rest of her life in the Wessington area.
Betty?s father, Sever Severson, had died in Dunn Center when she was eleven years old. She was born in a small house in Dunn Center on January 9th 1929. She was introduced to her brothers and sisters in a small grape basket after her birth. As a young girl, she hired out to help neighboring farmer?s wives during those tough times in North Dakota. Even at a young age she was attracted to dancing ? and would hop the train to Kildeer to attend dances. Betty loved to polka and that music would get her feet to tapping.
She married the love of her life ? Roy Oliver Clarke of Wessington on September 26, 1946. He was one of two suitors invited to a Sunday fried chicken dinner by her mother, Gertrude Dinehart Liebnow. Roy was the one chosen.
After their marriage they moved to a farm 2 miles southwest of Wessington. The house had no electricity or running water. She cooked on a small kerosene stove. Her husband was a good provider and before long they had electricity, a crank phone, water in the house, and a cook stove.
Their first son, Ronald Roy was born in 1949. He was followed by another son, Bruce Harry, born in 1952. A daughter was born in 1955 ? Vernetta Louise.
During the early years of their marriage they enjoyed card clubs and square dancing. In the late 1960s snowbird fever hit. They spent many winters traveling in the southern states with friends (the Graysons and the Johnsens). Later they choose Mesa, AZ for their winter home and returned home to work in the garden during the summers.
Family was important to Betty. She loved connecting with her many brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and other family members across the country from Wisconsin to Oregon to California to Arizona, while never forgetting her roots in the breaks of the Missouri River near Dunn Center.
She and Roy were blessed with nine grandchildren and now have 11 great grandchildren. They all have the same strong work ethic given to them by their grandparents.
Every fall as pheasant hunting approached, Betty looked forward to the Shilling boys coming to hunt. Since the early 1940s the Clarke family had hosted hunters and she carried on the tradition. Her kitchen was the scene for delicious smells of pheasant steak, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn and other yummies like Betty?s buns.
When the Lutheran church came to Wessington in the early 1950 she and Roy were part of the first class to be members of Concordia Lutheran. She spent many years as part of the Ladies Aid and Sunday School. Singing the old hymns was definitely a love of hers.
Betty and Roy definitely have experienced the great life,through drought, floods, trials, sickness, and hard work, God blessed them with prosperity and more than 66 years of marriage. Their dedication and love is admired by their family and friends. Betty entered the Good Samaritan Home in Miller in 2007.
Those remaining include her husband, Roy Clarke of Miller, SD.
Son - Ron & Joni Clarke ? Bellwood, NE Their children & grandchildren: Justin and Megan Clarke & sons Jack and Alex in Southlake, TX; Derek Clarke in Chicago, IL; Jared and Andrea Clarke and children Addison, Molly, and Alaina in Omaha, NE; Josh & Shayla Sexton and daughter Sawyer of Lincoln, NE
Son - Bruce and Karen Clarke ? Wessington, SD Their children and grandchildren: Dustyn and Lindsey Clarke and children Jeramy, Mackenzie, Jordan of Miller, SD; Darin and Angela Clarke and children Logan and Alaina of Nora Springs, IA
Daughter - Vernetta LeGrand and Mike Wuestewald ? Wessington and her children: Louise LeGrand of St Paul, MN, Lisa and Rob Mongone of St Paul, MN, and Josh LeGrand of Ft Pierre, SD
She has a sister ? Minnie (Richard - deceased) Hein of Wolsey, brothers Roy (Kay) Severson of Mandan, ND, Harold Nelson of Miller, SD, and Doran (Loraine) Nelson of Clifton Park, NY. Her brothers in laws include: Lester & Charlotte Clarke Aberdeen, SD, Donald & Jean Clarke Wessington, SD and Ralph (deceased) and Bernice Clarke of Miller, SD
Those who have passed are parents Sever Severson and Gertrude Dinehart Nelson Severson Liebnow and step dad Gus Liebnow. 6 brothers and 8 sisters preceded her in death also.
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5/17/2012
Thinking of years spent growing up in the same area and the times spent with you and your family. While the last few years have not been kind to Betty, she is now at peace with this world and has moved on to another. Our thoughts are with you.
Bob&Bonnie Martens
Vernetta & Bruce- So sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Our thoughts are with you.
Speaking as one of the Shilling boys, Betty will be greatly missed, but the memories of all the wonderful meals in her kitchen, opening her house up to us as if we owned it for so many years, and all the good times, will never be forgotten. Her smile will for ever be in our memories. How grateful we have all been to have such lasting and cherished friends, all the fun we have had with her and still have with her family, is something that may have never happened with out her nurturing of the friendship in those early years. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Vernetta and all of Bettys family. I send my deepest sympathy to all. Its so hard to lose our mom. Keep all your memories close as they will help through the difficult weeks head. Gods blessings to you all. Gail Haeder
Dear Family,
Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family in the loss of Betty.
Cherish the wonderful memories.
Betty was one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever meet. I was privelaged enough to be invited to Roy and Betty’s for some of those fantastic pheasant meals she prepared. I feel very blessed to have known her
Dear Roy and family:
The first time I met Betty was the first Sunday I played for services at Concordia, over 30 years ago. She gave me a very warm greeting, with that beautiful smile of hers. I have had the opportunity to visit with her many times, and she always made me feel like she really cared about what I had to say. She was a wonderful example of a fine christian wife, and mother. May the peace of our risen Lord and Savior be with all of you in the coming days. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but their Love leaves memories no one can steal.
Our hearts go out to the family.
I will always remember Betty’s good meals when I hauled bales for Roy when I was in high school.
It is so hard to lose our parents so we remain thankful that they were our parents for as long as possible. May your mom rest in peace, and may you find comfort in your memories.
To the Clarke family, my prayers and thoughts are with you. Take care. Mike Cox