Clara Wilhelmena Douglas, 91, Newell, died Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at the Sturgis Community Regional Health Care Center.

Visitation will be 8 a.m. until 9p.m. on Friday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, August 23, 2008 at the Nisland Independent Church with Pastor Doug Clark officiating. Burial follows at the Hope Cemetery in Newell.

Clara was born February 27, 1917 at Okreek, SD, to Ferdinand Augustus and Caroline (Zeitner) Arp.

She attended rural country school and returned to the family farm where she worked until she married John Henry Douglas at Mission, SD, on September 22, 1934.

They moved to the Black Hills where John was employed by CCC's. They lived in several places in the Hills until they moved to Whitewood in 1958. They moved to Arpan in 1962 where they owned and operated a sheep ranch and farm. Clara was a chef and she worked as a chef in Sturgis, St. Onge and Belle Fourche. She operated the restaurant at the Belle Fourche Livestock Exchange for a time. She was active in the family fur business in Belle Fourche.

John and Clara moved to Newell after they semi retired in 1988. Clara kept active in her garden and her church. She enjoyed her family.

Survivors include her sons Ron Douglas, Sturgis, John Douglas, Nisland; Carolyn (Bob) Baker, Gillette, WY, Yvonnne (Doug) Hanson, Nisland; also 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, and one infant son, Darold; one daughter, Charolette; 3 grandsons, 5 brothers, 2 sisters.

A memorial has been established to the Hallawasa camp and the Gideons.