Funeral services for 74-year-old Mary Clement of Darfur, Minnesota, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2016, at New Hope Lutheran Church in Comfrey, Minnesota, located at 204 Court Street South.
Interment will be in the New Hope Faith Lutheran Cemetery, located at 29053 County Road 1.
Visitation will be at New Hope Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and again at the church the day of the funeral service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Mary Clement passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2016.
Mary Ann Clement was born on March 21, 1942, in St. James, Minnesota, the daughter of Howard and Eldora Stradtman. Mary was baptized as an infant and was confimed on March 25, 1956, by Ralph Unke in St. Matthew’s Church in Butterfield, Minnesota. Mary graduated from Butterfield High School in 1960.
On June 17, 1960, she was united in married to David Clement by Reverend Kienetz at St. Matthew’s Church of Butterfield. They celebrated 55 years of love and commitment last June. This marriage was blessed by three children: Barbara and husband, Don Wolle of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, Bruce Clement and wife, Kim of Butterfield, and Sheila and husband, Anders Pierson of Butterfield.
Mary was Dave’s right-hand person when it came to crop, cattle and hog farming. Her favorite part about harvest was hauling the loads to town. She was a Sunday School teacher at St. Matthew’s Church in Butterfield and involved in 4-H leadership for many years. She loved working with her children and grandchildren and their 4-H projects during the summers. In 1990, Mary and Dave were awarded the Meritorious Service Award for Watonwan County.
Mary was a great cook and could whip up coffee and a meal in no time if friends stopped in. Mary was blessed with many friends who had a special place in her heart. She was an avid gardener and loved her flowers. In early years, Mary and Dave enjoyed traveling to many parts of the country and sight-seeing. Since retirement, their favorite pastime was fishing several times a year at Wolf Lake near Cass Lake, Minnesota. Mary enjoyed going to her children’s and grandchildren’s many school activities, sporting events, 4-H events and shows.
Other survivors include her grandchildren, Christopher Wolle and fiancé, Lisa Iker of Lake Crystal, Bradden Wolle and fiancé, Samantha Pospisal of Janesville, Minnesota, Dustin Clement and fiancé, Makaela Dunkelberger of Butterfield, Heidi Clement and special friend, Jay Lippert of Blomkest, Minnesota and Lukas, Seth and Ryan Pierson of Butterfield. She is also survived by eight great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Haldor Goetzke and wife, Eileen of Stillwater, Minnesota and nephews, Larry and wife, Linda Goetzke of North Oaks, Minnesota, Roger Goetzke of Eagan, Minnesota and Craig and wife, Lisa Goetzke of Kissimmee, Florida.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Eldora Stradtman; brother, James Stradtman of Butterfield and sister-in-law Jane Goetzke (Clement) of Eagan.
