Ralph Clarke, age 89, of Miller, SD, and formerly of Wessington, died Monday, December 10, 2007, at the Prairie Good Samaritan Center at Miller, SD. His funeral service will be at 2:00 PM Friday, December 14, at the First Presbyterian Church at Wessington with Rev. Allen Sager officiating. Burial will be at the Wessington Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 4:00 PM Thursday at the Welter Funeral Home continuing from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington, or Friday afternoon one hour prior to the servicve at the church. There will be a Prayer Service and Masonic Service at 7:30 PM Thursday at the church. Ralph Harold Emil Clarke was born on January 15, 1918, to Harry and Henrietta Etta (Martens) Clarke at his grandparents farm house in Nance Township, Beadle County, near Wessington, SD. He moved with his parents to a farm in Hand County when he was one year old. He attended Brown School through the eighth grade and two years of high school in Wessington. He left school as he was needed to help on the family farm during the 1930s. He would then travel to estherville, IA, with other farm boys to pick corn and also to Clear Lake, SD, to pick corn and harvest potatoes. In the summer and fall of 1938, Ralph worked for a road construction crew as an oiler and grease monkey on the night crew when Highway 14 was rerouted on the north side of town. On June 16, 1940, Ralph married berniece Muhs at Wessington. They farmed for a few years and he also worked other jobs. One job that Ralph thoroughly enjoyed was janitor of Wessington Public School from 1947 until October 1951. He worked for Hayes-Lucas Lumber Company - later UBC. He was later transferred to Edgeley, ND, and Aberdeen, SD. He retired in May 1981. During his retirement he drove mail truck delivering mail to various towns for the rural mailman. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington, the Wessington Masonic Lodge #107 AF & AM, and the Scottish Rite of Aberdeen. His proudest moments were his children and grandchildren and their school achievements and sports attainments. He was also very proud to be a part of the lighting of the Wessington ball park and the construction of the Wessington gym. Due to health problems Ralph and his wife, berniece, moved back to Wessington in October 1985 where they enjoyed their retirement among old-time friends and family. They also enjoyed many bus trips in which they toured many areas of the USA and Canada. He is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Berniece of Miller; 1 daughter, Marjorie (Guy) Kleinsasser of Norfolk, NE; 2 sons, Dennis (Joan) Clarke of Pierre, and Jack (Jeanne) Clarke of Britton; 1 daughter-in-law, Gloria Clarke of Ottertail, MO; 11 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 3 brothers, Lester (Charlotte) Clarke of Aberdeen, Roy (Betty) Clarke of Wessington, and Donald (Jean) Clarke of Wessington; several cousins and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; 1 son, Roger Clarke; 1 daughter-in-law, Audrey Clarke; and 1 granddaughter, Elizabeth Clarke.