Karen Elaine Clark, age 68, of Mitchell died under hospice care at her home. Memorial services will be at the Stickney United Methodist Church, Stickney, SD 10:30 AM Saturday, October 20, 2018 with burial at Silver Ridge Cemetery in rural Stickney, SD. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Stickney United Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, SD.

Karen Elaine Clark was born August 26, 1950 in Mitchell, SD to Willard John and Mary Edna (Barrows) Clark. She grew up on the family farm, attended schools in the Stickney School District, and graduated from Stickney High School in 1968.

After graduation, she and her mother moved to Mitchell, where she attended Dakota Wesleyan University and graduated in 1972. She continued her education and received a Master in Education from South Dakota State University in 1987 and a Master of Arts in Teaching—English from Northern State University in 1992.

As a language arts teacher and librarian from 1973 to 2015, she was employed by Ethan, Kimball, Stickney, Corsica, Chamberlain, Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell Technical Institute. As a speech and drama instructor, she coached her students through conference, regional and state successes.

Throughout her life, she was a member of South Dakota Council of Teachers of English, South Dakota Reading Council, Speech and Drama Association of South Dakota, Delta Kappa Gamma *Upsilon Chapter, SDEA, Mitchell Association of Technical Educators, Association of Career and Technical Education, PEO and the Stickney United Methodist Church. In 1999, she was named "South Dakota Reading Council Teacher of the Year."

She enjoyed reading, travel, yard work, home improvement projects, the farm, theater productions, following family activities and observing her students participate in various competitions and expand their abilities.

Survivors include her sisters, Marjean Rowley, Denver, CO; a sister-in-law, Doreen Clark, Stickney, SD; a niece, Brenda and LeAlan Punt, Armour, SD; two nephews, Paul and Jocelyn Rowley, Westminister, CO and Patrick and Kelly Rowley, Roswell, CA; two great nieces, four great nephews and one great great nephew. She was grateful for many "Prayer Warriors" and friends for their visits, cards and support.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Ronald Clark; both sets of grandparents; and a brother-in-law, Robert Rowley.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Stickney United Methodist Church, Mitchell Technical Institute or Dakota Wesleyan University scholarship fund for future Language Arts/Speech/Drama teachers who do not have other financial aid.