Lucille Irene Claussen, 89, Dell Rapids, S.D., formerly of the Rock County area, died Monday, April 1, 2002, at Avera McKennan Hospice in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Services were Saturday, April 6, at First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, S.D. The Rev. Ray Heidenson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.
Lucille Strassburg was born to James and Edna (Lorenzen) Strassburg on Sept. 17, 1912, on a farm near Hardwick. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. When she was 5 she moved with her family to a farm near Eckelson, N.D., where she attended rural school and began high school in Eckelson. The family moved to the Oriska N.D., area where she graduated from Oriska High School on May 29, 1929. She continued her education at Valley City Teachers College, Valley City, N.D., for two years and graduated with a teacherÕs certificate. In July 1931 she moved to Luverne and began teaching in a rural school near Rushmore where she taught for seven years.
She married Lorenz F. Claussen on June 14, 1939, in Luverne. Following their marriage they lived and farmed near the Hardwick and Magnolia areas and in 1954 moved to a farm west of Valley Springs, S.D., in 1954 she began teaching in Valley Springs Elementary School and taught the second and third grades. She also completed her education, graduating from Sioux Falls College on Aug. 14, 1965, with a bachelor's degree. In 1966 they moved to Brandon, S.D., where she continued to teach until her retirement in May 1978. After her retirement she continued to substitute teach in the Brandon Valley elementary schools.
Mr. Claussen died on July 9, 1970. In 1982 she began teaching full time again, teaching Chapter I math in Valley Springs. She retired after the 1995-96 school year. Mrs. Claussen was awarded an "Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America" certificate in 1975 and was included in the 1989-90 edition of "Who's Who in America Education." She moved to Orchard Hills Retirement Home in Dell Rapids, in August 2001 where she lived until Sunday, March 24, when she entered Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Mrs. Claussen was a member of First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, a member of the National and State Education Associations, the Valley Springs Legion Auxiliary, a lifetime member of the PTA, and for many years, secretary of the Lutheran Brotherhood Branch #8607.
Survivors include three sons, Lowell (Judy) Claussen, Renner S.D., Larry (Eileen) Claussen, Wayne, Neb., and Lyle (Mary) Claussen, Brookings, S.D.; six grandchildren, Cathy Reiman, Todd Claussen, Wendy Claussen, Jim Claussen, Lori Ann Claussen and Nikki Kunde; three great-grandchildren, Garret Claussen, Wyatt Reiman and Peyton Reiman; three sisters, Gladys Scott, Viola (Rudy) Lafrenz, both of Sioux Falls, Janice (Robert) Hanson, Brandon; three sisters-in-law, Viola Ladd, Luverne, Eunice Claussen, Hardwick and Delores Strassburg, Kenneth.
Mrs. Claussen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two brothers, Aldewin and Willard Strassburg.
The family requests memorials be directed to the Lucile I. Claussen Scholarship Fund.
Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.