Claudia Sangster

Funeral services for Claudia Sangster were held on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating.

Music was provided by Kay Don Jons and Jase Jons, vocalists, accompanied by Charlene Juran, organist. Marija Hay and Janet Bailey were in charge of registration.

Casket bearers were Gomer Hay, Stacey Boes, Merle Nelson, Ron Vogt, Cody Vogt, Marc Rolf, Maurie Schlaht, Jr., and Gayle Bailey. Honorary casket bearers were Lenna Olsen, JoAnn Vaughn, Harriet Bailey, Bev Boes, and the Rosebud Quilt Guild.

Interment was in the Herrick Cemetery in Herrick, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Claudia Kay (Daugherty) Sangster was born on March 26, 1947, at Broken Bow, NE, the oldest child of Claude and Dorothy (Baker) Daugherty.

Claudia and her three siblings grew up on a farm near Merna, NE. She attended school in Merna, and while in high school, she played volleyball, was in the pep club, sang in the Glee club, and played the saxophone in band. She graduated high school in 1965. During her senior year and into the summer, she worked at the café in Merna, where she met a special construction worker.

Claudia and Robert (Bob) Sangster were united in marriage on September 4, 196, in Merna, NE, which led to 57 years of marriage. When Bob and Claudia were first married, they traveled and lived in many towns while Bob was working on road construction. During this time their daughters were born: Cheryl Marie and Brenda Kay.

Bob and Claudia moved to their farm south of Herrick, where Bob still resides, in 1972. They worked together milking cows and farming for many years. Claudia always had a big vegetable garden from which she canned the produce to use throughout the winter. She enjoyed her flower gardens and was always willing to share her knowledge and plants with anyone who wanted some. Claudia worked part-time at the Whetstone Station in Herrick, where many games of pitch were played. She was a member of the State Line Homemakers Extension Club and the Cowbelles. She also helped with the West River Wranglers 4-H club and the Herrick Mustang softball team of which her daughters were members.

After the milk cows were sold, Claudia worked for the Schweigert Road Construction crew and at the Long Branch in Burke, SD. When Burke Pump ‘n Stuff opened, she started managing the convenience store. Claudia was usually the person to open the store very early in the morning and made sure the coffee was ready when the crew arrived. She retired from Pump ‘n Stuff in December of 2009.

Bob and Claudia enjoyed playing many games of canasta with good friends, meeting with old friends at different campgrounds during camping season, and driving to new places to explore. She also looked forward to meeting up with her friends for lunch and coffee when possible. After she retired, she spent a lot of time quilting and was a member of the Rosebud Quilt Guild. She made sure each grandchild and great-grandchild had a quilt.

Claudia also enjoyed following her granddaughters’ school and college events. If she couldn’t be there in person, she was by the radio listening. She also enjoyed attending the Wednesday Bible study group that met in Bonesteel.

She passed away on July 11, 2023, at the age of 76 years at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Claudia is survived by her husband; her two daughters Cheryl (Dan) Baxa, Herrick, SD, and Brenda Sangster, Dante, SD; granddaughters Dana (Travis) Byrd, Mitchell, SD, Chelsa (Dan) Jons, St. Charles, SD, Mandy (Kelvin) VanHill, Inwood, IA; 12 great-grandchildren; siblings Dwight (Patti) Daugherty, Darla (Ron) McCleary, and Carma (Rob) Hartman; sister-in-law Elaine Mahanke; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws Bert and Jessie Sangster; brother-in-law Glen Mahanke; and niece Lora Ann (Mahanke) Petersen.