Clara M. Williams, daughter of John Sand and Elizabeth (Arthur) Sand, was born on April 4th, 1919, at Lindsey, Nebraska, and passed to her reward on August 11, 2006, in Downers Grove, Illinois, at Good Samaritan Hospital. Clara spent the past 11 months in the Chicagoland area with her son, Jack, and his family with visits and numerous contacts from her family during her extended visit. Clara was called to her reward after facing heart related health issues within the recent past. Her family and friends were privileged to experience her presence for 87 years, 4 months, and 7 days.
Clara's youth was spent on farms in rural Nebraska and subsequently near Colome, Carter, and Mosher, South Dakota during her teenage years. Clara attended several country schools and finally Witten, South Dakota High School.
Clara was married to Kenneth H. Williams on January 22, 1937, and to this union three sons were born: Jerry (1938), Gene (1939), and Jack (1953).
In 1939, after a failing economy befell the South Dakota area, Clara and her family relocated to the Portland, Oregon, area. Kenneth was employed within the logging industry and subsequently secured employment in the Kaiser shipyards. In 1942 after their second son, Gene, was born, Clara accepted a position with the Kaiser Shipyards as a welder. Clara worked for the Kaiser Company until 1945. After her husband Kenneth was drafted in the Army during mid 1945, and after the shipyards closed, Clara moved back to South Dakota to await the return of her husband from WWII. Kenneth returned from the war in 1946 and was immediately reunited with his family in South Dakota. After returning from the service, Kenneth and Clara revitalized Kenneth's father's house moving business. Clara often accompanied the house moving staff helping in any capacity she could. The family moved to Winner in 1955.
In December of 1963, Kenneth passed away unexpectedly. Clara, after having worked at the Winner Baptist Hospital as a nurses' aide (prior to the death of Kenneth), enrolled in nursing school in Springfield, Missouri, the following year and graduated in 1965 with an LPN degree. During the span of her 40 years in nursing, Clara worked for Dr. Robert Hayes, Dr. Robert Stiehl, Winner Nursing Home, and Winner Regional Health Care Center. Clara retired from the nursing profession in 1999 at the age of 79.
Throughout Clara's life, her interests were varied and family focused. Clara supported the athletic and musical endeavors of her children, enjoyed fishing and hunting (she was a good shot with a .22 caliber rifle), was an avid bingo player, and became a seasoned traveler. In addition she enjoyed horse and dog racing. Clara never overlooked an opportunity to travel. Most recently, in August of 2005, Clara, accompanied by her sons Jerry and Jack and their families, visited the last remaining sailing Liberty Ship (like the ones she helped build during WWII). The group was able to sail from San Francisco on an eight hour excursion. This experience was a momentous occasion for Clara and her ability to share a part of her life with her family from her past.
Clara is survived by her three children: Jerry and his wife Marlys (Guthmiller) Williams of Plankinton, SD; Gene and his wife Martha (Andrews) Williams of Mission, SD; and Jack and his wife Dee (Westendorf) Williams of Lombard, Illinois. Clara is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial will be in the Winner Cemetery.
Arrangements by Mason Funeral Home in Winner.
Clara's youth was spent on farms in rural Nebraska and subsequently near Colome, Carter, and Mosher, South Dakota during her teenage years. Clara attended several country schools and finally Witten, South Dakota High School.
Clara was married to Kenneth H. Williams on January 22, 1937, and to this union three sons were born: Jerry (1938), Gene (1939), and Jack (1953).
In 1939, after a failing economy befell the South Dakota area, Clara and her family relocated to the Portland, Oregon, area. Kenneth was employed within the logging industry and subsequently secured employment in the Kaiser shipyards. In 1942 after their second son, Gene, was born, Clara accepted a position with the Kaiser Shipyards as a welder. Clara worked for the Kaiser Company until 1945. After her husband Kenneth was drafted in the Army during mid 1945, and after the shipyards closed, Clara moved back to South Dakota to await the return of her husband from WWII. Kenneth returned from the war in 1946 and was immediately reunited with his family in South Dakota. After returning from the service, Kenneth and Clara revitalized Kenneth's father's house moving business. Clara often accompanied the house moving staff helping in any capacity she could. The family moved to Winner in 1955.
In December of 1963, Kenneth passed away unexpectedly. Clara, after having worked at the Winner Baptist Hospital as a nurses' aide (prior to the death of Kenneth), enrolled in nursing school in Springfield, Missouri, the following year and graduated in 1965 with an LPN degree. During the span of her 40 years in nursing, Clara worked for Dr. Robert Hayes, Dr. Robert Stiehl, Winner Nursing Home, and Winner Regional Health Care Center. Clara retired from the nursing profession in 1999 at the age of 79.
Throughout Clara's life, her interests were varied and family focused. Clara supported the athletic and musical endeavors of her children, enjoyed fishing and hunting (she was a good shot with a .22 caliber rifle), was an avid bingo player, and became a seasoned traveler. In addition she enjoyed horse and dog racing. Clara never overlooked an opportunity to travel. Most recently, in August of 2005, Clara, accompanied by her sons Jerry and Jack and their families, visited the last remaining sailing Liberty Ship (like the ones she helped build during WWII). The group was able to sail from San Francisco on an eight hour excursion. This experience was a momentous occasion for Clara and her ability to share a part of her life with her family from her past.
Clara is survived by her three children: Jerry and his wife Marlys (Guthmiller) Williams of Plankinton, SD; Gene and his wife Martha (Andrews) Williams of Mission, SD; and Jack and his wife Dee (Westendorf) Williams of Lombard, Illinois. Clara is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial will be in the Winner Cemetery.
Arrangements by Mason Funeral Home in Winner.
Clara M. Williams, daughter of John Sand and Elizabeth (Arthur) Sand, was born on April 4th, 1919, at Lindsey, Nebraska, and passed to her reward on August 11, 2006, in Downers Grove, Illinois, at Good Samaritan Hospital. Clara spent the past 11 months in the Chicagoland area with her son, Jack, and his family with visits and numerous contacts from her family during her extended visit. Clara was called to her reward after facing heart related health issues within the recent past. Her family and friends were privileged to experience her presence for 87 years, 4 months, and 7 days.
Clara's youth was spent on farms in rural Nebraska and subsequently near Colome, Carter, and Mosher, South Dakota during her teenage years. Clara attended several country schools and finally Witten, South Dakota High School.
Clara was married to Kenneth H. Williams on January 22, 1937, and to this union three sons were born: Jerry (1938), Gene (1939), and Jack (1953).
In 1939, after a failing economy befell the South Dakota area, Clara and her family relocated to the Portland, Oregon, area. Kenneth was employed within the logging industry and subsequently secured employment in the Kaiser shipyards. In 1942 after their second son, Gene, was born, Clara accepted a position with the Kaiser Shipyards as a welder. Clara worked for the Kaiser Company until 1945. After her husband Kenneth was drafted in the Army during mid 1945, and after the shipyards closed, Clara moved back to South Dakota to await the return of her husband from WWII. Kenneth returned from the war in 1946 and was immediately reunited with his family in South Dakota. After returning from the service, Kenneth and Clara revitalized Kenneth's father's house moving business. Clara often accompanied the house moving staff helping in any capacity she could. The family moved to Winner in 1955.
In December of 1963, Kenneth passed away unexpectedly. Clara, after having worked at the Winner Baptist Hospital as a nurses' aide (prior to the death of Kenneth), enrolled in nursing school in Springfield, Missouri, the following year and graduated in 1965 with an LPN degree. During the span of her 40 years in nursing, Clara worked for Dr. Robert Hayes, Dr. Robert Stiehl, Winner Nursing Home, and Winner Regional Health Care Center. Clara retired from the nursing profession in 1999 at the age of 79.
Throughout Clara's life, her interests were varied and family focused. Clara supported the athletic and musical endeavors of her children, enjoyed fishing and hunting (she was a good shot with a .22 caliber rifle), was an avid bingo player, and became a seasoned traveler. In addition she enjoyed horse and dog racing. Clara never overlooked an opportunity to travel. Most recently, in August of 2005, Clara, accompanied by her sons Jerry and Jack and their families, visited the last remaining sailing Liberty Ship (like the ones she helped build during WWII). The group was able to sail from San Francisco on an eight hour excursion. This experience was a momentous occasion for Clara and her ability to share a part of her life with her family from her past.
Clara is survived by her three children: Jerry and his wife Marlys (Guthmiller) Williams of Plankinton, SD; Gene and his wife Martha (Andrews) Williams of Mission, SD; and Jack and his wife Dee (Westendorf) Williams of Lombard, Illinois. Clara is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial will be in the Winner Cemetery.
Arrangements by Mason Funeral Home in Winner.
Clara's youth was spent on farms in rural Nebraska and subsequently near Colome, Carter, and Mosher, South Dakota during her teenage years. Clara attended several country schools and finally Witten, South Dakota High School.
Clara was married to Kenneth H. Williams on January 22, 1937, and to this union three sons were born: Jerry (1938), Gene (1939), and Jack (1953).
In 1939, after a failing economy befell the South Dakota area, Clara and her family relocated to the Portland, Oregon, area. Kenneth was employed within the logging industry and subsequently secured employment in the Kaiser shipyards. In 1942 after their second son, Gene, was born, Clara accepted a position with the Kaiser Shipyards as a welder. Clara worked for the Kaiser Company until 1945. After her husband Kenneth was drafted in the Army during mid 1945, and after the shipyards closed, Clara moved back to South Dakota to await the return of her husband from WWII. Kenneth returned from the war in 1946 and was immediately reunited with his family in South Dakota. After returning from the service, Kenneth and Clara revitalized Kenneth's father's house moving business. Clara often accompanied the house moving staff helping in any capacity she could. The family moved to Winner in 1955.
In December of 1963, Kenneth passed away unexpectedly. Clara, after having worked at the Winner Baptist Hospital as a nurses' aide (prior to the death of Kenneth), enrolled in nursing school in Springfield, Missouri, the following year and graduated in 1965 with an LPN degree. During the span of her 40 years in nursing, Clara worked for Dr. Robert Hayes, Dr. Robert Stiehl, Winner Nursing Home, and Winner Regional Health Care Center. Clara retired from the nursing profession in 1999 at the age of 79.
Throughout Clara's life, her interests were varied and family focused. Clara supported the athletic and musical endeavors of her children, enjoyed fishing and hunting (she was a good shot with a .22 caliber rifle), was an avid bingo player, and became a seasoned traveler. In addition she enjoyed horse and dog racing. Clara never overlooked an opportunity to travel. Most recently, in August of 2005, Clara, accompanied by her sons Jerry and Jack and their families, visited the last remaining sailing Liberty Ship (like the ones she helped build during WWII). The group was able to sail from San Francisco on an eight hour excursion. This experience was a momentous occasion for Clara and her ability to share a part of her life with her family from her past.
Clara is survived by her three children: Jerry and his wife Marlys (Guthmiller) Williams of Plankinton, SD; Gene and his wife Martha (Andrews) Williams of Mission, SD; and Jack and his wife Dee (Westendorf) Williams of Lombard, Illinois. Clara is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial will be in the Winner Cemetery.
Arrangements by Mason Funeral Home in Winner.
