Sarah Elizabeth Clark

Sarah Elizabeth (Beth) Clark, daughter of the Rev. Clyde Jesse Hall and Mary Beecher Hall was born September 12, 1917, in Singapore, Malay Peninsula, Malaysia, where her father was a Methodist Missionary. The family returned to the United States when she was ten years of age. They resided in Missouri, Washington and Oregon where her father was a pastor. Beth received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Williamette in Ellensburg, Washington and did post graduate study at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa; University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Denmark; England; and Hawaii. Following her graduation from Central Washington she taught school in Elma and Olympia, Washington. On February 23, 1946, Beth was united in marriage with Russell David Clark in Goldendale, Washington. Their union was blessed with four children, Becky, James, Russell and Randall. They made their home at Dunlap, Iowa, before moving to Dow City where she taught for five years. In 1960, they moved to Denison and Beth continued her teaching career at Schleswig, Denison and Manilla, retiring in 1982. Following her retirement she continued to reside in Denison and was a Teacher Naturalist at the Fontanelle Forest Nature Center in Bellevue, Nebraska for five years. In her spare time she enjoyed world travel. Throughout her life, Beth was active in many church, civic and community organizations including: First United Methodist Church in Denison; United Methodist Women and the church choir; American Association of University Women; Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority; Order of Eastern Star; Parents Without Partners; Crawford County Republican Women and served for eight years on the State Judiciary Board to select judges, having been appointed by Governor Robert Ray and ended her term under Governor Terry Branstad. In later years Beth made her home at the Reed House in Denison and since March of 2009 she had resided at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison where her death occurred late Friday, February 25, 2011. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 93 years, 5 months and 13 days. Beth was preceded in death by her parents: Rev. Clyde Hall and Mary Hall; her husband: Russell David Clark July 3, 1967; brother: Tom Hall; and sister: Marie Schell. Those remaining to cherish her memory include four children and their spouses: Becky and Gil Wigeland of Indianola, Iowa; James and Nancy Clark of Denison, Iowa; Russell and Joanne Clark and Randall and Nancy Clark of Osage Beach, Missouri; four grandchildren and six great grandchildren: James Clark Jr. and special friend Angie and children Ben, Braydon and Isabella of Schleswig, Iowa; Megan and husband, Dan Hanson and children Tyler and Haylee of Denison, Iowa; Shawn Riley and fiancée Libby Lowe and his daughter Cassandra Riley of Columbia, Missouri; and Sara Clark of Columbia, Missouri; other relatives and friends. It was Beth’s desire upon her death to have her body donated to the Nebraska Anatomical Board for medical research. Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 3, 2011, at the Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Alberta Ervin officiating. Music for the service included recorded selections of “How Great Thou Art”, “Just As I Am” and “Go Ye Now In Peace”. Following the service all were invited to join the family at the First United Methodist Church in Denison for fellowship and luncheon prepared and served by the United Methodist Women. Upon the completion of the medical research, Beth’s cremated remains will be inurned at the Dow City Cemetery in Dow City. A memorial has been established to the American Cancer Society. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.