Dorothy Helen (Johnson) Clites

     Dorothy “Dottie” Clites, 93, of Mitchell, formerly of Carthage went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at the Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Memorial services will be 10:30am, Saturday, April 21, 2018 at First Reformed Church, Mitchell, with inurnment in the Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery, Mitchell. Visitation, Friday will be from 5pm to 7pm with a Prayers beginning at 7pm, at First Reformed Church, Mitchell.  

    Dorothy “Dottie” Helen Johnson was born September 28, 1924 on the family farmstead near Woonsocket, South Dakota, to Harry and Lillian (Kutil) Johnson. She attended the Nielson Country School in Twin Lakes Township for 8 years, then graduated as an honor student from Woonsocket High School in 1942. Dorothy was employed at the Court House in Howard, from 1942 – 1946. It was during this time that she met Dale Clites, who had served with the 12th Air Force in the European Theater during World War II.

    The couple married February 1, 1946 and lived in Carthage for a few years. The couple began farming in 1949, on the Robert Raesly farm. They then purchased the Alvin and Beda Freed farm northeast of Carthage in 1954. They prospered and had a new house built on the property in 1971. Two sons where born to this union, Marvin in 1949 and Michael in 1953. They celebrated a 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1996 and a 60th in 2006. Dale passed away in 2007.

    Dorothy spent the next five years near her son Michael in Arkansas. Dale and Dorothy traveled extensively, spending 12 winters in Mesa, AZ and three at Little Rock, AR. They made four overseas trips. Dorothy and Dale enjoyed ballroom dancing and entertaining family and friends. They attended all their sons and grandchildren’s sporting events. They lived on their farm for 51 years, then moved to Stickney in 2005, to be near their son Marvin. Dorothy moved t0 Mitchell in 2010 and into the Countryside Living in 2012. She transferred her church membership from Carthage UCC Church to First Reformed Church in Mitchell in 2012.

    Those grateful for having shared in her life include her sons Marvin (Katie) Clites of Stickney, SD; Michael Clites of Carthage, SD; special friend Karin Cunningham of MN; seven grandchildren Chad (Brenda) Clites of Stickney, SD; Carrie (Brad) Oakley of Parkston, SD; Stacey (Lance) Hosman of Stickney, SD; Scott (Brenna) Clites of White Lake, SD; Meredith (Ethan) Clites of Vilonia AR; Carl Clites of Conway, AR; Elizabeth (Michael) Rendoes of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; fourteen great grandchildren.

    Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dale, brother Edward Johnson, sister Betty Lee.

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