A memorial service for William Earl "Bill" Clark, 88, longtime Aberdeen businessman, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, 502 S. Lincoln St. The Rev. Eldon Reich will officiate. Inurnment will be at Riverside Memorial Park, with military honors by Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post 24. Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
William Earl Clark was born in Aberdeen on April 14, 1925, to Earl William and Laura (Breitenbach) Clark. After graduating from Aberdeen Central, Bill joined the U.S. Navy in July 1943. Upon receiving his honorable discharge on May 17, 1946, he joined his father in business at Coe & Howard Title Company. Bill was united in marriage to Janice Johnson on July 23, 1949. They were blessed with four children: Cathy, Brad, Sue and Tom. Bill earned his commercial pilot license, was part owner of several aircraft over the years and spent many hours flying for business and pleasure. In 1955, he purchased the business from his father and renamed it Clark Title Company. He remained as president of the title company until his death on Monday.
The Boy Scouts played a major role in Bill's life as he achieved Eagle Scout status in 1937 and later was awarded the Silver Beaver award. He served as Scout Master of Troop No. 10 for 15 years. Throughout his lifetime he continued his oath to do his "duty to God and Country" and "to help other people at all times" by serving his church and his community. Although Bill regularly served First United Methodist Church as an usher, he will be most remembered as a tenacious fundraiser for the many special projects of the church. His membership with the church and the faith that grew with that membership, sustained him in his final weeks.
Bill was active in the community both locally and statewide. He was a 25-year member of Lions Club of Aberdeen and was a charter member of the Aberdeen Development Corporation. Bill served on the Planning Committee for Downtown Parking for 20 years and was a member of the first City Parking Board. He was the Drive Chairman for the new YWCA Building and a member of the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Club. Bill also served on the Board of Directors for the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and on the Advisory Committee for St. Luke's Dakota Midland Hospital. Bill was a charter member of the Aberdeen Jaycees Snowman guards and in 1956, was honored as the Jaycee Outstanding Young Man of the Year.
Bill was also known to try his hand at development, having built apartments in Aberdeen, Pierre, and Rapid City. In 1968, he built the Clark Title Building and in 1976 was a developer for the Physicians Office Building in Aberdeen. He also owned and operated farmland in Brown County until 1995.
At the state level, Bill has been a member of the Governor's club since 1980. He is a past president and a member of the Board of Director's of the South Dakota Land Title Association (SDLTA). He was appointed to the South Dakota Abstracters Board of Examiners by four governors for a total of 15 years of service. He was also a board member serving the Department of Transportation Committee for the SDLTA. Other organizations on which Bill served on the Board of Directors include the Chiesman Foundation for Democracy and Sitting Bull College.
On June 25, 1994, Bill married Jeanie Sjerven and began a new chapter in his life. Together, they built a new home, where they enjoyed gardening together. No holiday went by without the appropriate décor adorning their home. They enjoyed entertaining in the yard, as well as in the house, and did so frequently. Bill and Jeanie shared a love for traveling and so visited many parts of the world as they tried to check things off Bill's bucket list. Bill even entered a rock skipping contest at Mackinaw Island on the 4th of July in 1996. He received an honorable mention for his attempts.
Bill's love of hunting and fishing was exemplified by his memberships in the Brown County Sportsman Association and the Brown County Grouse Hunters Association. Opening weekend of the pheasant season always found Bill with family and friends on "The Hunt." He was happy to provide "field lunch" to the hunters and requested said lunch for his memorial service reception.
The kitchen was the center of activity every August as Bill would can and cook with his garden produce. He loved to try new recipes but whether old or new, he was known for his "spice" for life. Woodworking was also a passion. He was proud to create something as simple as a birdhouse or a garden arbor. His granddaughters have a beautiful memory stored in the cedar chests he made for each.
Bill and Jeanie enjoyed the theatre and always tried to attend a production when traveling. Bill took heart in the words "the circle of life". Family often referred to him as Mufasa from "The Lion King". As explained in the production, "When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass and so, we are all connected in the great circle of life." You had a good life Bill Clark. You can rest easy now. We will meet again.
Grateful for sharing in Bill's life are his wife, Jeanie, and his children, Cathleen (Bill) Britton of Sioux Falls, S.D., Bradley (Lori) Clark of Pierre, S.D., Susan (Matt) Tweel of Procterville, Ohio, and Thomas (Corina) Clark of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren: Stephanie Britton, Lindsey (Dave) Erickson, Ashley Britton (fiancé Jon Manske),
Hatta (Jared) Barnes, Courtney Clark, Will Clark, Kristy Lee (Chris) Olsen, Jace Tweel, Jonathan Clark, Jackson Clark, Carly Clark; his great grandchildren: Abigail Baptiste, Ethan Erickson, Lucas Erickson, Haylee Erickson, Nora Erickson, Capri Olsen, and Heidi Olsen; and step-daughters: Tamara Weisenberger (fiancé Michael Moses) of Mankato, Minn., and Stacey (Jeff) Olson of Puyallup, Wash.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, mother, and two sisters, Kathleen Clark and Nancy Beckley.
Memorials are preferred to First United Methodist Church, Avera St. Luke's North Plains Hospice, or the donor's charity of choice.
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