Helen Moritz

Helen Claire Moritz, 83, of Clark, died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 at the Beverly Healthcare-Clark following an extended illness. Services will be Friday, Nov. 21, 10:30 a.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC) in Clark with Pastor Donna Nickels and Rev.Robert Seater officiating. Music will be provided by Dorothy Fuller, organist and Brenda LaBrie as soloist. There will also be congregational singing. Burial will be at Rosehill Cemetery under the direction of Furness Funeral Home.

Helen Claire Condit was born July 25, 1920 at Wahpeton, N.D. to B.W. "Jeff" and Nettie (Nelson) Condit. In May of 1929 the family moved to Mayville, N.D. where they ran the Mayville Tribune for many years. On March 7, 1942 she married Bert Leonard Moritz at Mayville before his enlistment in the U.S. Army. She graduated from Mayville State Teachers College with a bachelor of arts degree that spring. She spent the summer in Kansas City to be near her husband who was in basic training. That fall she returned to Mayville and taught in a rural school. After his service in Newfoundland, she rejoined him at a base in Boca Raton, Fla. until his discharge. Following World War II the couple moved to Wahpeton where he taught at the North Dakota State School of Science. In 1947 they moved to Clark and entered a partnership with her father in the operation of the Clark County Courier. In 1957 they became the sole owners. The paper was owned by the family for 54 years. She was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC) where she was active in women's groups, Sunday school teaching and the church choir. She also was an active member of P.E.O., Order of Eastern Star, South Dakota Newspaper Association, Clark Golf Club and many other civic and community groups. The couple moved from their long-time home to Roetell Assisted Living Center in November of 2000. She remained there after his death on Nov. 25, 2001. Most recently she was a resident of the Clark Care Center. Survivors include four children: Jane (John) Andrich of Kildeer, Ill.; David (Marlys) Moritz of Clark; James (Jody) Moritz of Faulkton; Ann (Dennis) Kelly of Columbia, Mo.; AFS son Wolf and wife Male Wagner of Waltershausen, Germany; ten grandchildren, Tim (Julie) Nelson, Cathy (Rick) Chapin, Susan (Swede) Sporrer, Jennifer Nelson, Carrie Kelly, Garrick (Carrie) Moritz, Emily Kelly, Benjamin Kelly, William Kelly and Paul Moritz; a step grandson Mark Andrich; four great-grandchildren, Halle and Henry Nelson, and Patrick and Matthew Chapin; four sisters JoAnn Harrington, Mayville, N.D.; Ruth Skarison, Mayville, N.D., Kathleen (Gerry) Spies, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Beverly (Ed) Clausen, Clark; brother John (Mary Lee) Condit, Mt. Morris, Ill.; sister-in-law Lydia Moritz; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5-7PM at the Funeral Home Chapel and after 9AM on Friday at the Church.