Dolores Clement

View Dolores' Recorded Funeral Service

Dolores C. Clement, 90, of Orient, passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at Faulkton Senior Living.

Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Orient. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Orient. A wake service will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at the church, with visitation one-hour prior.

Dolores Casilda Gebhart was born in Faulkton, SD to Edward and Clara (Bauhs) Gebhart, on September 13, 1932. She received her education from Orient, graduating class of 1950. Dolores continued her education at Notre Dame Jr. College in Mitchell, graduating that next year as a certified secretary. She returned home, going to work as a secretary in Faulkton, for a short time. During this time, Dolores participated in the Faulkton Snow Queen and was crowned Ms. Faulkton 1952.

On June 2, 1952, Dolores married Louis Clement at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Orient. They were blessed with 10 beautiful children, raising them on their family farm east of Polo. Living in the country led to countless hours spent driving kids to and from school daily.  In 1972, they moved into Orient allowing Dolores less travel time and more time to spend with her friends. In later years, that included daily coffee with her friend, JoAnn Schulte.

Dolores was a lifetime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Orient. She dedicated many years as the church organist, a member of the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, and as a teacher for CCD. She was an avid supporter of the Right to Life, and she traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual March for Life Rally.

Dolores loved to cook, clean, raise stray dogs, and watch her favorite TV shows. She spent her weekends baking rolls and bread for the week, praying the rosary with her family at night, and attending Sunday Mass.  

She always had a home that welcomed all. She loved filling her home for holidays and meals, ensuring no one ever left hungry. Many holidays were shared with those who had nowhere else to go, regardless if they were two or four legged. Christmas and Thanksgiving were the most popular holidays in her home, although she enjoyed them all!

Dolores is survived by her children: Gene (Carol) of Huron, Jerry (Jeanie) of Sturgis, Don (Jody) of Orient, Sharon (Curt) Spangler of Miller, Bill (Deb) of Faulkton, Dale of Miller, Dan of Redfield, Kevin of Orient, Fr. Tom of Platte, and Sue (Bob) DeGeest of Huron; sister: Geraldine Bowar of Paynesville, MN; sisters-in- law: Dee Gebhart of Sioux Falls and Shirley Gebhart of Menomonie, WI; special family friend: Rex Young of Orient; 21 grandchildren; and 41 great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death are her parents; husband, Louis; siblings: Harold, Ralph, Francis, Donald, and Dick Gebhart, Blanche Haley, and Dorothy LeDuc; and three grandchildren: Levi, Kristina, and Alexi Clement.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Dolores’ arrangements.