Don Clarke
October 7, 1930 ~ June 12, 2012
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Donald Clarke, 81, of Wessington, died Tuesday, June 12 at the Avera St. Luke?s Hospital in Aberdeen. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 18 at the Wessington Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be Sunday, June 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service followed by Masonic Rites all at the Wessington Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at the Wessington Cemetery.
Donald Thomas Edward Clarke was born October 7, 1930 to Harry and Henrietta (Martens) Clarke on the family farm near Wessington. He attended country schools in the Wessington area and graduated from Wessington High School in1948. He worked on his family's farm, milking cows and delivering milk until he was drafted into the Army in 1951. He served in the Korean War for 2 years. After returning to the states he met the love of his life, Jean Ellen Hawley. They were married March 6, 1955 in Wolsey, SD. Three children were born to this union, Kent in 1956, Karen in 1958, and Kevin in 1964. Don and Jean farmed in the Wessington area Don's whole life. He was a Rural Mail carrier for 35 years from 1956 to 1991. He was a DeSmet Farm Mutual Agent and served on the board of Directors.
Don was passionate about his community, state, and nation. This was evident through his work with the American Legion and VFW of which he was a lifetime member. He was a member of the 40/8, Masonic Lodge for 50 years, Wessington Economic Development Corporation, Presbyterian Church, serving on the Presbytery, and was on the Wessington School Board for 25 years.
A large part of Don's volunteer service is evident in work with veteran's groups and American Legion. He was a life member of the Watson Krauter Post 110 from 1954-2012. He held many offices at the Post, County, District, State, and National levels. Being State Commander and National Executive Committeeman were honors for
Don.
Don gained much pleasure from spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed attending his children's and grandchildren's numerous activites including baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball, rodeo, 4-H, oral interpretation and dance. He also enjoyed traveling for Legion and Rural Carrier meetings and conventions, and being involved in government affairs with a strong affiliation to the Republican Party. He was a strong believer in soil conservation which was apparent in his work with the land.
Don enjoyed the last year and a half of his life at the Good Samaritan Center and appreciated the exceptional care he received from the staff.
Blessed to have shared his life were Don's wife of 57 years, Jean of Wessington; three children, Kent (Tami) Clarke of Wessington, Karen (Cliff) Lockner of Watertown, Kevin (Julie) Clarke of Wessington; His grandchildren Sommer (Phil) Welling of Falls Church, VA, Polly Clarke of Rapid City, SD, Jase Clarke of Wessington, Ty Clarke of Wessington, Jeff Lockner (Leah) of Brandon, SD, Angie (Levi) Lunden of Astoria, SD, Darin Swartz of Wessington, Bridgett Clarke of Wessington, Brooke Clarke of Wessington, and Hailey Clarke of Wessington; four great -grandchildren, Alexandria Clarke, Andrew Welling, William Lockner, and Charlotte Lunden; two brothers Lester (Charlotte) Clarke of Aberdeen, Roy Clarke of Miller; four sisters-in-law Bernice Clarke of Miller, Beth (Jerry) Miller of Chandler, AZ, Joyce (Jerald) Zerfoss of Wessington, Carol (Jerry) Smith of Golden Valley, AZ; two brothers-in-law, Ray (Honey) Hawley of El Cajon, CA, Jake (Ann) Hawley of Fort Meyers, FL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ralph, sister-in-laws Betty Clarke, Shirley Tritthart, Marge Hawley and Elaine Hawley and brother-in-law Harry Hawley.
Donald Thomas Edward Clarke was born October 7, 1930 to Harry and Henrietta (Martens) Clarke on the family farm near Wessington. He attended country schools in the Wessington area and graduated from Wessington High School in1948. He worked on his family's farm, milking cows and delivering milk until he was drafted into the Army in 1951. He served in the Korean War for 2 years. After returning to the states he met the love of his life, Jean Ellen Hawley. They were married March 6, 1955 in Wolsey, SD. Three children were born to this union, Kent in 1956, Karen in 1958, and Kevin in 1964. Don and Jean farmed in the Wessington area Don's whole life. He was a Rural Mail carrier for 35 years from 1956 to 1991. He was a DeSmet Farm Mutual Agent and served on the board of Directors.
Don was passionate about his community, state, and nation. This was evident through his work with the American Legion and VFW of which he was a lifetime member. He was a member of the 40/8, Masonic Lodge for 50 years, Wessington Economic Development Corporation, Presbyterian Church, serving on the Presbytery, and was on the Wessington School Board for 25 years.
A large part of Don's volunteer service is evident in work with veteran's groups and American Legion. He was a life member of the Watson Krauter Post 110 from 1954-2012. He held many offices at the Post, County, District, State, and National levels. Being State Commander and National Executive Committeeman were honors for
Don.
Don gained much pleasure from spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed attending his children's and grandchildren's numerous activites including baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball, rodeo, 4-H, oral interpretation and dance. He also enjoyed traveling for Legion and Rural Carrier meetings and conventions, and being involved in government affairs with a strong affiliation to the Republican Party. He was a strong believer in soil conservation which was apparent in his work with the land.
Don enjoyed the last year and a half of his life at the Good Samaritan Center and appreciated the exceptional care he received from the staff.
Blessed to have shared his life were Don's wife of 57 years, Jean of Wessington; three children, Kent (Tami) Clarke of Wessington, Karen (Cliff) Lockner of Watertown, Kevin (Julie) Clarke of Wessington; His grandchildren Sommer (Phil) Welling of Falls Church, VA, Polly Clarke of Rapid City, SD, Jase Clarke of Wessington, Ty Clarke of Wessington, Jeff Lockner (Leah) of Brandon, SD, Angie (Levi) Lunden of Astoria, SD, Darin Swartz of Wessington, Bridgett Clarke of Wessington, Brooke Clarke of Wessington, and Hailey Clarke of Wessington; four great -grandchildren, Alexandria Clarke, Andrew Welling, William Lockner, and Charlotte Lunden; two brothers Lester (Charlotte) Clarke of Aberdeen, Roy Clarke of Miller; four sisters-in-law Bernice Clarke of Miller, Beth (Jerry) Miller of Chandler, AZ, Joyce (Jerald) Zerfoss of Wessington, Carol (Jerry) Smith of Golden Valley, AZ; two brothers-in-law, Ray (Honey) Hawley of El Cajon, CA, Jake (Ann) Hawley of Fort Meyers, FL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ralph, sister-in-laws Betty Clarke, Shirley Tritthart, Marge Hawley and Elaine Hawley and brother-in-law Harry Hawley.
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Clarke Family,
You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Don was always kind and friendly.
Mary Davenport (formerly Wuestewald)
Kevin, Julie and all the Clarke family. Sending you all hugs and deepest sympathy in the loss of Don. hang on to all the memories. Gail Haeder
One of my greatest memories of Don was seeing that cloud of dust he kicked up when delivering RR mail. Some times he would stop and chat. Which meant alot to my Mom. He will be missed
Bob
Sorry to hear of your loss. I always enjoyed visiting with Don at the reunions about farming, etc.
Dear Jean, Karen, Cliff, Angie, Levi, Jeff Leah and children,
What a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather! He will be missed, but his memories for each of you will live forever. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Love, Jan & Gerry
Dear Karen, Cliff, Jeff, Angie and Clarke Family,
It is so very hard to lose your father, grandfather, husband. I remember the first time I met Don. I came away smiling after our conversation and thinking…now I know where Karen got her sense of humor! We send our sympathy and love.
Joan and Tom Dodds
Love prayers and support to you all…It is hard to deal with all of this in our family.. We (our family) are there for you anytime you need some help..
love vernetta
My sympathy to the whole Clarke family. I have always enjoyed Don, his great stories and quick wit.
Don was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was the leader of the pack to the Ohio hunters for many years. In the later years he was the one we went to for the wisdom and some good stories. He had a laugh and firm hand shack that only Don could deliver. Even though we only saw him and his family at most a couple times a year, he was like a father to us. Don and Jean brought up an unlikely friendship of two families 1000 miles apart that couldn’t be any closer if we all lived on the same street. When Don walked into a room he just lit it up, and although we won’t have the opportunity to see him do that for a while, we will always remember when he did. He was great man and will be greatly missed. South Dakota has lost one of it’s treasures.
Love,
The Shillings
Even though I didn’t know Don that long it was easy to see what a caring man he was. He always asked about my kids and our sports teams. I know he also loved his family very much and was very proud of them.
I’m gonna miss that smile as he was beating Jean at cards. I’m also gonna miss his yelling Hey Tulare (he couldn’t remember my name but knew I was from Tulare.)
He was a very special man and take comfort in knowing that he is in a better place. A place where all his pain and illness are gone.
To the Clarke family I am so sorry to hear aboout Don, you all are in my prayers
phyllis ( Bob ) Mckelvey
Jean and family,
Many great memories of Don
through my involvement with him in the legion. He was truly a special guy.
Bruce Herman
Cliff, Karen and family: We just wanted to know how sorry we were to hear about the passing of Karen’s dad. You and your family are in our prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers to the family. Don was always a fun guy to be around and a great source of information at American Legion functions.
Jean and family, I am so sorry to hear about Donnies passing. What a truly great citizen and supporter of the Wessington community, and was very devoted to all he was involved in or with. He will truly be missed by many. I looked up to him for all he has done for school and community. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Lanette
My condolences, Jean. I also lost my husband Paul this spring on 14 April so you have my utmost sympathy. Paul always remembered Don as they sat next to each other at SDSC in Brookings and Don was the one that introduced us…4 years later we were married!