Elizabeth Clark

Elizabeth Marie "Betty" Clark, 86, former resident of White Earth, MN, died Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Emmanuel Nursing Home, Detroit Lakes. Visitation will be held at the White Earth Community Center on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 5:00 PM with Ojibway Hymn Service beginning about 7:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 30, 2012 at St. Benedict's Catholic Church, White Earth, MN. Interment will be held afterward at Calvary Cemetery, White Earth. Betty was born April 16, 1925 at Oshkinowe Lake in Maple Grove Township east of White Earth to William "Ni-zhoot" and Louise (King) Oshkinowe. She lived at Oshkinowe Lake and in the village of White Earth with her parents, but often lived with her Grandpa Isaac & Grandma Elizabeth Santwier near Hwy 113, and her Aunt Jennie Oshkinowe at Oshkinowe Lake. Betty attended school at St. Benedict's Mission in White Earth, St. Mary's Mission in Red Lake, MN and Kay's Corner School east of White Earth near Strawberry Lake. After school Betty went to work in Duluth with the NYA (National Youth Association), part of the WPA (Works Progress Administration), where she made tin cups and tin dishes for soldiers during WWII. After the war, Betty returned to White Earth and eventually went to St. Paul, MN where she worked at a Chinese restaurant called the Kim Chu, and later at the St. Paul Hotel. Betty was united in marriage to Harold Wayne "Red" Clark in Des Moines, IA. Red was a truck driver and Betty frequently traveled throughout the country with him. Having learned to sew from the nuns at the Sisters' School, Betty quickly became a talented seamstress at a young age and sewed out of her home throughout her life. She did everything from alterations, to making women's dresses, pant suits, and other street clothes, to creating beautiful quilts. Betty returned north periodically to be with her mother, living at times in Detroit Lakes at the Graystone Hotel and in Waubun, but she continued to return to St. Paul. In the early 1980's Betty returned permanently to White Earth and lived on the hill across from Congregate Housing where she worked for a time in the kitchen. She moved to Emmanuel Nursing Home, Detroit Lakes in Jan. 2011.

Betty was a long-time member of the White Earth Ojibway Hymn Singers and also a member of St. Benedict's Christian Mothers, as well as, the Kateri Circle in White Earth where she was fortunate to travel to many places from the West to the East coasts and many points in between. She enjoyed playing Bingo, picking berries, canning, cooking, fishing, Ojibway hymn singing, and pow-wows. Although she loved watching any TV detective shows, Columbo was always her favorite. In later years she spent many relaxing hours at the kitchen window in her "apartment on the hill" playing solitaire with "your cousin", watching the wild birds eat at their feeders and her dog, Baby, romp outside. Even up to her last few weeks, Betty was always up for a road trip…where to didn't matter. Betty is survived by daughters Kaylynn (Tim) Davis, Jewel Jackson, and Tabetha Piller, one brother: Jim (Shirley) Jackson of Waubun, MN, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, close cousins, and many good friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, her grandparents Isaac & Mud-way-cosh Santwier, two sons: Peter W. Oshkinowe (aka Norman Brown), Kenneth E. "Oxie" Jackson, brothers Peter M. Oshkinowe, Raymond "Azegah" Jackson, sisters: Marciana "Blinks" Bevins, Mary Lou King, Rita Goble, Carol Jean "Crow" Livingston, three infant brothers: Joseph, Edward, and Billy, five special nephews Beans, Georgie, Barley, Daydodge Bevins, and Richard King and a god-child Devin Thompson.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Service
Friday, March 30, 2012

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