Mildred "Millie" Ida Clark, Kenneth, died Friday, Oct. 18, 2002, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
Services were Tuesday, Oct. 22, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore. The Rev. Robert Maher, a long-time family member, officiated. Burial was at West St. Anthony Cemetery located between Kenneth and Lismore.
Mildred Gamber was born to Edward J. and Marguerite (Thorndyke) Gamber on Sept. 26, 1921, near Woodstock. She attended Woodstock Grade School until the eighth grade and graduated from Ruthton High School. She graduated from the Minneapolis School of Beauty Culture and worked in St. Paul.
She married Joseph A. Clark at St. Catherine Catholic Church on Sept. 17, 1941. During World War II they lived in Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Sill, Okla. After the war, they farmed in Rock County for 17 years and moved to Kenneth in 1964. She was the first woman mayor in Rock County and led the nationally acknowledged fight against the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to retain the rights of small cities. She was instrumental in acquiring rural water for Kenneth.
Mrs. Clark was actively involved in the American Legion Auxiliary, Home Extension Club, Catholic Daughters, Southwestern Minnesota Mental Health Board, Rock County Welfare Board, Senior Citizens and North Star 4-H Club. She loved traveling with her husband, dancing, reading antiques, gardening, fishing, playing cards, sewing, casinos, and Minnesota Twins baseball.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph Albertus Clark; four children, Karen (Jacquelyn) Clark, Minneapolis, Dr. Edward (Mary) Clark, Craig (Pam) Clark, all of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Cynthia (Wayne) Pratt, Ramsey; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Darryl (Anita) Gamber, Don (Ruth) Gamber and Jerry (Mary Frances) Gamber; a special sister-in-law, Lucille, a brother-in-law Edsel (Elaine); many nieces and nephews; and friends.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Larry, and an infant son, Philip, one brother, V. Duane, and one sister, Marjorie.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in chare of arrangements.