Clarice Thyen

Clarice Thyen, age 99 of Waverly, SD passed away Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am Friday, May 3, 2024 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kranzburg, SD with Father Christopher Hughes as the Celebrant and Father Richard Baumberger as the Concelebrant.
Visitation will be held from 5-9pm Thursday, May 2, 2024 at the Waverly School Gymnasium.
Interment will be at the St. Joseph's Cemetery in Waverly, SD
Pall Bearers are her grandsons: Michael Thyen, Brian Thyen, Eric Sour, Blaine Hyde, Nathan
Thyen, Kevin Berg, Ryan Thyen, Andrew Thyen, Jason Thyen, Alex Thyen, and Daniel Seitz.
Honorary Pall Bearers are her granddaughters: Chris Noem, Cheryl Hansen, Rochelle Schmidt,
Eva Engebretson, Heather Kockelman, Kathryn Jurrens, Janelle Bludorn, Jessica Goens, Emily
De Beer, Kelsey Bludorn, Natalie Arendsee, Sara Thyen, Samantha Thyen, and Elizabeth Thyen.
Clarice Thyen, 99, of Waverly, South Dakota, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, April 25, 2024. She was born on February 26, 1925, to John and Hildegard (Kranz) Hulscher in Goodwin, South Dakota. She attended Holy Rosary School in Kranzburg through her sophomore year. Due to World War II, the boys from Clarice's class went to war. Clarice, the class salutatorian, graduated one month early with the rest of her classmates from Goodwin High School in 1943. Following graduation, she and her sister, Ruth, worked for farmers shocking grain and picking potatoes. Clarice also worked for Bauer's Grocery in Kranzburg.
On November 27, 1944, her parent's 25th wedding anniversary, Clarice married Ralph Thyen at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. She worked on the family farm doing the dairy chores, especially milking cows. During harvest Clarice could be found driving combines and grain trucks.
Clarice was a member of the Waverly School Board for over 30 years. During this time, she also served on the board of directors for the Northeast Educational Services Coop, Hayti, which she was a founding member. She was a member of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, Pierre, for eight years. Clarice resigned from all boards because of failing eyesight. She assisted the American Red Cross Blood Mobile in Watertown for 25 years. She was an active 4-H leader, being one of the leaders who helped with the 4-H Leaders Lunch Counter for the Watertown Winter Farm Show for many years. She judged 4-H projects at the county level and at the South Dakota State Fair. Clarice served as Superintendent of the Women's Building at the South Dakota State Fair for 20+ years. For her many years of service and dedication to education, Clarice received many awards: Associated School Boards of South Dakota Leadership and Service Award; 1999 Outstanding School Board Member of South Dakota; and Associated School Boards of South Dakota Award of Distinction (2000 and 2001). In 2014, Clarice was honored as being inducted into the 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame for her commitment and dedication to the youth of South Dakota.
Clarice enjoyed writing letters and sending cards to friends and family, as well as embroidering dish towels, playing pinochle, and doing crossword puzzles.
Clarice is survived by twelve children: Ronald (Dianne), Hayti; Phyllis Sour (Pat Karie), Black Hawk; Ken, Sioux Falls; Lois (Doug) Hyde, Castlewood; Mary Ellen Luikens, Scotland; Bernie, Norfolk, Nebraska; Dan (Becky), Waverly; Rita (Tom) Berg, Baltic; Sharon (Doug) Dahlgren, Watertown; Diane (Dan) Seitz, King Salmon, Alaska; Jim (Penny), Waverly; Russell (Heather), Grove City, Minnesota; and honorary son Vaughn Nelson, Corona; her sister, Helen Haan of Kranzburg; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Ruth Ebbers, brothers Robert and John Jr., sons-in-law Corky Sour and Dean Luikens, and grandson-in law Brett Schmidt.
Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel serving the family ~ www.wightandcomes.com