Mildred Clausen

A celebration of life for Mildred Clausen was held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Union Baptist Church, Burke, SD. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke. Midge was born on August 28, 1929, in rural Herrick, SD, to Raymond and Olga Duerfeldt. Midge lived on a farm for many years. She began school in St. Charles, SD. The family moved to Aberdeen, SD, for two years before returning to a farm south of Burke where she finished elementary school at the Klug School. She attended Burke High School, graduating in 1947. In the fall of 1946, she started dating Cam Clausen. They were married June 17, 1947. Midge and Cam went to Mortuary School in St. Louis, MO. They returned to Burke where Cam worked with his dad at the funeral home. Midge took her apprenticeship and was licensed in 1950.

A son, Danny Michael, was born June 10, 1950. Danny became very ill and was in Children’s Hospital in Omaha, NE. He passed away in August of 1950.

Cam and Midge had three daughters: Jane in 1951, Nancy in 1953, and Susan in 1959. Midge became a very busy homemaker and dedicated mother. She sewed lots of clothes for them and made all three daughters’ wedding gowns.

As the girls grew older, Midge began working as a nurse’s aide at the Burke Hospital. She took her SD state board exam and became an LPN. She really enjoyed working in the health care field. She also worked at the Clausen Funeral Home for many years.

In the 1980s, Cam and Midge sold the funeral home but continued to work there as employees. This freed them to spend winters in Mesa, AZ, where they made many friends. Cam and Midge both enjoyed ballroom and square dancing. They taught dance lessons for children and adults. Midge enjoyed playing bridge, games and cards; making porcelain dolls; hardanger; Swedish weaving; and cooking food to give to others. Her favorite sports were golfing and walking with friends.

Midge accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in 1953 and was a member of Union Baptist Church. She taught Sunday school, Bible school, and was a member of the Women’s Missionary Society. Highlights of her life were serving as a nurse at Camp Judson, a mission trip to Kentucky with daughter Jane volunteering at a United Methodist project, and a trip to Mexico with the Klugs to build homes for the poor.

Cam became very ill and passed away in February 1998. Midge continued to go to Mesa, AZ, in the winter and back to Burke in the summer. She continued working at Clausen Funeral Home until 2010. Midge then moved to her winter home to Tucson, AZ, to be closer to her daughter Nancy and family in October 2020. She was able to stay in her Tucson home until 2022 when she moved to an assisted living apartment.

Mildred Marie (Midge) Duerfeldt Clausen, age 93, of Tucson, AZ passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Peppi’s Hospice.

She is survived by her daughters: Jane (Dennis) Evenson, Clear Lake, SD; Nancy (Randy) Klug, Tucson, AZ; and Susan (Paul) Feltman, Canton, KS; grandchildren: Jenny (Curtis) Liles, Chandler, AZ; Carmen (Jacob) Bossman, Sioux City, IA; Ryan (Suzzie) Klug, Goodyear, AZ; Regan (Jeanette) Klug, Tucson, AZ; Craig (Katie) Evenson, Clear Lake, SD; Kiva Hanes, Salina, KS; Hayley (John) Jones, Cadet, MO; Chris Birkhead, McPherson, KS (adopted with love); 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ray and Olga; her brothers Melvin and LaVerne; sister Muriel; her husband Cam; son Danny; and grandson Spencer Feltman.

Memorials will be donated to the Union Baptist Church and Camp Judson scholarship fund.