Donna Mae Clausen

Donna Clausen, age 75, Watertown, formerly of Clark, widow of Harold "Corky" Clausen, died at her home in Watertown early this morning, Tuesday, August 15, 2006 after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 21, 2006 at 10:30 AM in the St. Michael's Catholic Church at Clark with the Reverend Bill Hamak officiating. Private burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. Visitation will be held after 6PM on Sunday evening with a 7PM Liturgical wake service all in the St. Michael's Church at Clark. There will not be visitation at the Church on Monday morning prior to services. The immediate family is requested to meet at the funeral home on Monday morning at 9:30 AM to attend services. Music will be provided by Dorothy Fuller as organist with Brenda LaBrie and Barb Desnoyers singing. Roger Nordhus will also sing. Honorary Casketbearers will be her granddaughters, Michele Werdel, Lindsay Parish, Amy Redlin, Kristine Clausen, Darci James, Mindy and Mandy Clausen. Active Casketbearers will be grandsons, Travis, Troy, Tony and Shane Werdel, Dana Parish, Chad & Jeremy Clausen, Dustin and Shawn Hurlbut and Eric Clausen. She was born at Clark on August 9, 1931, the daughter of Hans and Hazel (Alter) Claussen. She attended grade school near Doland and then for a brief time during her freshmen year she went to Raymond High School. In 1949 she graduated from Logan High School. On October 10, 1949 she was united in marriage to Harold 'Corky' Clausen at Montevideo, MN. The couple lived in communities in South Dakota and California before returning to South Dakota in 1957 moving to Clark. While living in Clark she worked for Tillie Doyen at Doyen's Caf' and for Kent's Caf'. In the late 1960's she purchased an existing business in Clark and opened Donna's Caf'. She built a new building on the corner of Highway 212 and Commercial Street in Clark and operated the caf' there for many years. Donna also helped operate the family business, Clausen Construction, retiring from that only four years ago. Her husband died June 27 of 2005. She was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church. In her early years, she spent many hours on the family farm near Doland helping her father. One of her hobbies was crocheting and another love of hers was dancing. Donna will long be remembered as one anybody could go to, whether family or friend, for a shoulder to lean on or two listening ears. Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Judy Parish and husband Mike of Watertown, Jeanne Werdel and husband Lee and Kenneth Clausen and wife Karen all of Clark, Mary Hurlbut and husband Rod of Raymond, Ron Clausen and wife Lisa of Clark and David Clausen of Watertown; 17 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and siblings, Helen Bowers of Clark, Myra 'Mike' Hartley and husband Gerald of Clark, Betty Harper and husband Don of Watertown and Roger 'Butch' Claussen and wife Jeannie of Clark. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, brother Richard 'Bud' Claussen and wife Fran, a sister Alice Walsh and husband Frank and a brother-in-law, Reamer Bowers. Email condolences to www.furnessfuneralhome.com