Mildred Catherine (Samek) Clarys, 91, Courtenay, ND passed away Wednesday, March 17, 2021 in Wimbledon, ND.
Mildred Samek was born April 5, 1929 to James and Mary (Zastoupil) Samek on her folks’ farm 10 miles southeast of Dickinson, ND. Her first years of school were in a country school called Ash Coulee where she learned to speak the English language as her parents spoke Czech at home.
In 1943 her family moved to a farm 10 miles north of Wimbledon. She attended Dover School until the 8th grade. After that she stayed at home to help with her younger siblings.
On October 19, 1948 she married Joseph Anton Clarys at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Wimbledon. He had also moved here from Dickinson to help her older brother farm. They made their home farming outside of Courtenay. They celebrated their 50th anniversary before he died in 1999.
Mildred was active in Band Mothers and PTO when the children were in school and also with the St. Mary’s Altar Society in Courtenay. She loved to spend her time sewing and gardening, and was especially good in the kitchen cooking, baking and growing beautiful flowers.
Mildred is survived by three daughters Carol (Robert) Goffe, Courtenay, ND, Karen Olschlager, Harvey, ND, Diane (Steve) Silkett, Tabor, IA; six sons Ronald (Bonnie), Fargo, ND, Mark (Jodi), Williston, ND, Joe (Genise), Williston, ND, Gerald (Nancy), Courtenay, ND, Bernard (Della), Fargo, ND, Kenny, Courtenay, ND; 22 grandchildren and 48 great grandchildren; three sisters Margaret Haugen, Patricia Cherney, and Bertha Lorenz; five brothers Frank (Debra), Benedict, Stephen (Karen), Bernard (Barbara) and Vitres Samek.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son-in-law Douglas Olschlager, brothers George, Laudie, Valentine and Wensel, sisters Mary Albrecht, Georgiana Cherney, sisters-in-law Aggie Samek, Agnes Samek, Adeline Samek, Sara Samek and Rosalie Samek, brothers-in-law Ervin Albrecht, Eugene Haugen, Taft Cherney, Laudie Cherney, Lawrence Peterson and Lloyd Lorenz.
Due to Covid-19 the family is holding a private Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM, Thursday, March 25, 2021 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Wimbledon, ND with Father Sean Mulligan officiating. The family is offering a time of visitation for friends from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 24 at Eddy Funeral Home. Interment will be in St. Boniface Cemetery, Wimbledon, ND.
The family encourages those attending to please wear masks.
Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.