Graveside services for Mavis Clark, age 92, of Keldron, SD, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2022 at the Chance Cemetery south of Meadow, SD.  Pastor Jess Harkins will officiate, and following the service, a time of fellowship and refreshments will be held at the Coal Springs Community Church near the Hwy 73 and Hwy 20 junction.

Mavis Marie Olson was born on September 10, 1929, to George Olson and Gladys Leone (Holmes) Olson at home in Morristown, SD. She attended Pioneer School through the 8 ^th grade.  In the summer she baby sat for some of the neighbor families. Mavis lost her mom to cancer at an early age.  As a result, she never attended high school. In the fall of 1945, she went to work for the Charles Fish family, who lived at Grand Valley, a community south of Keldron, SD.  In 1946, at a dance in the Grand Valley Hall, Mavis met the love of her life, Jim Clark.  They were united in marriage on May 4, 1947, at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, SD.  After a honeymoon trip to eastern South Dakota, the couple made their home on the Clark Ranch south of the Grand River.  It was their home for 71 years.  Six children were born to their marriage.

Mavis loved to care for her family.  She enjoyed preparing delicious meals that were not only shared with her family, but neighbors and many hired men, as well.  Everyone considered it a treat to eat her fresh buns, caramel rolls, or sour cream raisin pie.  Perhaps, she was best known for the chokecherry, buffalo berry, wild plum, or wild grape jelly that went on those fresh buns!  There was always room at Mavis' table for one more.

Mavis loved to garden, having a large garden for many years at the "garden dam" which was a mile from the house.  She would spend hours there. The younger kids would tag along unwillingly, unless it was an irrigation day, and they could play in the mud while Mavis worked in the garden.  Mavis loved to work in her yard, as well.  She loved to grow flowers.

When the older Clark children started high school, Mavis and the kids moved to Isabel for the school year.  While in Isabel, Mavis had many jobs.  She was known for her ability to do a job accurately and thoroughly.  She cleaned houses, worked at the school, and worked at the Hel-mars candle factory.  She and the kids came home most every weekend, where she would busy herself cleaning the house at the ranch and catching up on many chores.

Mavis fulfilled the term "helpmate" to the fullest, walking along side of Jim in all the ups and downs of ranching.  She loved helping with the sheep, spending hours in the sheep barn and raising many bum lambs from cows that she milked. In Mavis' later years, she found immense joy in taking trips with Pat or one of the grandkids in the side-by-side.  She loved to see the beautiful prairie, the cows, and the sheep. In 2000, Jim and Mavis were honored to be the Boss Cowman Honorees.

Mavis loved to read the Bible and loved the Lord.  She also loved her children and grandchildren.  She would cover her loved ones daily in prayer.  All her grandchildren enjoyed visits to grandma and grandpa's house.  Several will cherish the memories of being able to spend summers there.  Four of Mavis' grandchildren grew up "just over the hill" from her.  They will forever be grateful for the many hours that grandma invested in their lives, as she baby sat them- teaching, loving, and nurturing them.

Mavis was a member of the Coal Springs Community Church.  At her request, there will be no funeral, as she hated goodbyes.  She was cremated and her ashes will be buried beside her husband Jim at the Chance Cemetery.

Mavis is survived by her children, Susan Zahrowski and Ron of Douglas, WY; Lois (Art) Heinrich of Box Elder, SD; Bill Clark of Rapid City, SD; Mike (Betty) Clark of Rapid City, SD; Pat (Barb) Clark of Meadow, SD; Sandy (Glenn) Veil of Rapid City, SD; 15 Grandchildren, Bryce (Robin) Zahrowski, Della Ridgeway, Lena Heinrich, Gwyn Heinrich, Bret (Jeannie) Clark, Travis (Amy) Clark, Stacy (Bill) Vegus, Steve (Danielle) Stucky, Tayte (Emma) Clark, Trigve (Jordan) Clark, Cassidy (Colton) Ward, Teigan (Lindsey) Clark, Brandon (Nicole) Veil, Kendra Veil, Casey (Carly) Veil; Numerous great-grandchildren; sister, Norma (Ralph) Weerts; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; and four sisters, Mary Alice Meyers, Harriet Pazie Cocherham, Gladys Wolfe and Ella Mae Hausauer.