Clara Mae Selk was born July 28, 1933, in Kidney, Michigan to Fred and Martha (Mahoney) Smith. She attended school in Penny Pog, Michigan. While Clara was working in Bad Ax, Michigan, she met Henry Selk who was stationed in the U.S. Air Force at Port Austin, Michigan. They married May 4, 1953, in Kidney, Michigan. Shortly thereafter, Henry was stationed on a radar site in Ontario, Canada, and Clara went back home to live with her folks for a year. They moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for several years before they were shipped by the Air Force to Skull Thorpe, England from 1957 to 1960. Upon their return they were stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base for a year before Henry was discharged.

Clara Mae and Henry were baptized in March of 1962, symbolizing their dedication to Jehovah. In 1972, they were asked to go to Sturgis, SD, to help start a congregation there, where they have since continued to live.

Clara loved watching Wheel of Fortune, collecting things, (including beanie babies, rings, and small diecast VW bugs) and garage saleing (she was even nick-named the Garage Sale Queen). Her favorite activity was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved sitting and listening to Henry play his guitar and sing to her, especially if the song was, "I love You Because".

After declining health, Clara entered Sturgis Regional Senior Care in June of 2013. She passed away Thursday, January 7, 2016, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

Those left to mourn her passing include her husband of 62 years, Henry; son, Steven (Sue) Selk of Ankeny, IA; daughters, Cindy Steele (Orville, deceased) of Black Hawk, SD, and Sharon (Jeff) Gartner, of Winona, MN; 4 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; her dear friend, Rita Gerard of Sturgis; and many other dear family members and friends.

Memorial services for Clara Mae Selk, 82, of Sturgis, will be Sunday, January 10, at 2:00 pm, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2250 Moose Dr., Sturgis, SD. A private family interment will be on Tuesday, January 12, at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis.

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