March 29, 2024

Clarice Minnick

Creston

Clarice Minnick, 97, of Creston passed away Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at Creston Specialty Care.

Celebration of life services will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 26, at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25, in Creston. Pastor Tony Thurston will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Afton. Open visitation with family receiving friends will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at the funeral home in Creston. Memorials are to Nancy McKay Harsh Creston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.

Clarice Emily Minnick, daughter of Lloyd Ernest Stephens and Lola Maude (Spencer) Stephens, was born Jan. 9, 1921, near Delphos in Rice Township in Ringgold County. She attended school in Delphos, later graduating from Mount Ayr High School in 1938.  After high school, she took post-graduate work to earn her normal training certificate in Mount Ayr. She began her career in education teaching country school at Monroe No. 3 in Ringgold County in 1939. In 1940, she taught in Union County country schools until 1946.

On April 2, 1943, Clarice was united in marriage to Lawrence John Minnick at her parents’ home near Afton. That union was blessed with six children, four daughters and two sons. After Lawrence’s return from the military, they lived and farmed in Ellston, Truro, Arispe, Delphos and Tingley. Clarice returned to teaching in 1964, where she taught kindergarten until 1967. In 1971 after moving to Kellerton, Clarice began attending Graceland College. In 1972, she began to teach reading at Grand Valley Community Schools. On Aug. 31, 1974, Clarice earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Graceland College. Clarice continued to teach until she retired in May of 1989.

Clarice was a member of Delphos Baptist Church, Kellerton Christian Church, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Creston and the Nancy McKay Harsh Creston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. While busy raising her family, she always had large vegetable gardens and beautiful flower beds. Clarice enjoyed attending all activities of her children and grandchildren, especially sporting events. She had a very competitive spirit, showing no mercy when playing games against anyone. Among some of her favorites were Pitch, Racko, Dominos and Cribbage.

Clarice is survived by her three daughters, Cheryl Hassler of Squaw Valley, California, Leola Kralik of Creston and Alice Beavers of Collins; a son Stanley (wife Diana) Minnick of Pattonsburg, Missouri; 14 grandchildren, Angela (husband Steve) Anderson of Squaw Valley, California, Cory (wife Jodi) Kralik of Indianola, Chris (wife Amy) Kralik of Creston, Curtis Kralik of Des Moines, Jodi (husband Scott) Girard of Collins, Jennifer Gerhart of Rhodes, Michael (wife Brandy) Beavers of Collins, Jenny (husband Emmett) Davis of Buckeye, Arizona, Jesse Shoemaker of Phoenix, Arizona, Josh Minnick of Grant City, Missouri, Gary Munyon, Elizabeth (husband Kelly) Hughes of Pattonsburg, Missouri, and Elijah (wife Ashley) Minnick of Kansas City, Kansas; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters and two sisters-in law, Mary Stephens of Mount Ayr and Ruby Stephens of Shannon City.

Clarice was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lawrence; daughter Edith; son Stephen; a sister; six brothers; an infant brother; two sons-in-law, Mark Hassler and Jim Beavers; and a grandson Rob Collings.