Clifford E. Yexley

Clifford E. Yexley, age 91, Bradley, died in the Golden Living Center at Clark on Friday afternoon, October 9, 2009. He had resided in the care center for the past 3 years. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 10AM in the St. John Lutheran Church at Bradley with Minister Marion Grimes officiating. Music will be presented by Marvine Obermeier as organist, with Wendy Christman playing and singing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and the Bradley/Crocker Church Choir will sing, "Sheltered in the Arms of God" and "What a Day That Will Be". Casketbearers will be Vic, Alan, Doug, Steven,David, Jeff and Baron Yexley, Clarence "Jr." Lundholm, and Chris Olson. Burial will follow in the Prairie Hill Cemetery at Bradley. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home chapel and after 9AM at the Church in Bradley on Wednesday morning. He was born at Bradley, SD on January 8, 1918, the son of William Arthur and Nellie (ODonnell) Yexley. He attended school through the eighth grade at Thorp School, southwest of Bradley. After his schooling he worked on the family farm until his marriage to Ida Shervheim on June 29, 1941. After their marriage they began farming near Bradley for the next 64 years until failing health forced them, in 2005, to move to the Fay Wookey Memorial Assisted Living Center and then they moved into the Golden Living Center both at Clark. Ida died on February 9, 2008. Cliff has continued to be a resident at the living center until his death. Cliff was baptized and confirmed in the St. Johns Lutheran Church at Bradley. Most of his fondest moments were spent outdoors working in the fields, hunting pheasants with family members or visiting over a cup of coffee or tea. Cliff will long be remembered for his love of horses. He had numerous teams and driving horses and loved to give buggy and bobsled rides to the grandkids. Cliff enjoyed watching satellite TV, especially the RFD channel, listening to country music enjoying Jim Reeves and favorite country song entitled White Sportcoat. Hardly a Saturday night went by that he & Ida wouldnt be in front of the television watching Lawrence Welk. He also enjoyed reading "The Draft Horse Journal". For many years, Clifford sold Pioneer Seed while Ida managed the books and helped with Pioneer Days. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, Ida, a great-grandson, Rayce Olson and brothers, Sidney, Victor and Ernest. Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Terry (Lyn) Yexley of Bradley and Connie (Larry) Parliament of Florence; grandchildren, Chris (Michelle) Olson of Las Vegas, NV, Wendy Dunaway of Colgate, WI, Jeff (Kerri) Yexley of Bradley, Dawn (Barett) Lenton of Coon Rapids, MN, Trudi (Kyle) Gaikowski and Heidi (Jeff) Seefeldt all of Clark and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where you can sign an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com