Clarice Poler, 91, of Colome, SD passed away on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 10 am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery. A Rosary was held Thursday morning at 8:30am at the church prior to funeral service.
The opportunity of being allowed the privilege of preparing the summation of one’s life on paper and hoping to do its due diligence is an intimidating task. But, what an honor and blessing to be able to write the life tribute of the matriarch of your family.
I believe that if you could assign one word to Clarice’s life, it would be Faith; Faith in God, Faith in family, Faith in love, Faith in self.
Clarice Jean O’Bryan was born in her family home, 3 miles north of Moser, SD on March 19, 1929. She was the 5th of 13 children born to Boyd and Theodoshia (Eastin) O’Bryan. Harvey, Don, Minella (Schueth), Vera (Wold), Clarice, Dorothy (Rohde), Patrick, Kenneth, Richard, Kathryn (Shedeed), Norma (Dirksen), Dennis (who died as a toddler), and a baby Michael that died right after birth and never came home from the hospital. She often spoke fondly of her childhood, growing up in a small 2 room house full of kids and love. She said they didn’t have much but never seemed to go without. She told of sleeping 3 to a bed and of the need to bring in a bed each night to the kitchen for the older boys to sleep. She talked of childhood friends, milking cows, and often wondering “why on earth we thought climbing those big hills was fun.”
Her faith in God was instilled at a young age. She told the story many times of how her parents didn’t have a reliable car and couldn’t always make it to church on Sundays. When she had been studying her catechism, the family attendance had been less than what some had thought necessary for a confirmand. But a family friend knew how important it was to her to be allowed the chance to profess her faith and be confirmed in her church. So, one evening the family friend arranged for her to meet with some priests from the diocese and although nervous to be without a class for support, stood in that living room alone and recited all of the correct answers and was indeed, confirmed in her faith.
She attended high school in O’Neill, NE at St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school, where she graduated at 16. She then went on to Denver to the convent, considering a life of dedication to her faith as a nun. The story has always been that she, “couldn’t pass the physical.” After a year in the Covent, she returned to Winner where she was working at the Outlaw Trading Post. She recalled it was December and it was a cold winter when she was approached by Father Perry, the priest from the St. Francis Mission. From her time in the convent, he had heard of how intelligent she was and of her knowledge of her Catholic faith. He asked if she’d be interested in teaching the 2nd semester of that year for the 2nd grade at the girls’ dorm in St. Francis. She thought of her 6 block walk through the cold and snow to get to her current job and quickly took him up on his offer. She had many fond memories of her time in St. Francis. This opportunity set her on a path to get her teaching certification that next summer in Mitchell.
She then moved home with her folks (who had since moved to the farm south of Winner). She was offered a job to teach at the Rosebud School #54 for the ’46-’47 school year.
It was also during this time that she met the love of her life, Clarence Poler. They were married on June 21, 1948. They soon began the part of their lives that would bring them the utmost joy and pride, their family; Nancy, Judy, Ed, Kaye and Jim. She taught one more year after she was married at the Hillcrest school south of Colome but then opted to stay home after they began having children. They started out humbly by being given a small acreage by Clarence’s father and with that piece of land, started their life. Together with faith, hard work and perseverance they built up their farm, welding business and family. She had a big garden, and together they farmed, raised chickens, sheep and cattle. Being active in the church and making sure her children were brought up in faith were high priorities. She was involved in the Colome Catholic Daughters, was a lector in church and led the Rosary countless times.
Now, not everyone knows this but Clarence had a ’58 Harley Davidson. A beautiful teal and cream motorcycle that for many years would inspire them the two of them pack up, dress in their riding leathers and take off for Sturgis. They made friends on these summer trips that would become lifelong traveling companions. One couple in particular would meet them each year, part way, and travel together for the remainder of the trip. Years later after both women had lost their spouses at relatively young ages, the ladies continued to travel together. They took many tour bus and cruise ship trips together to see the country.
In addition to running a household, in 1967 she took over a door-to-door Avon business from her sister Dorothy. She continued this work for 50 years. She traveled around the local communities, stopping to show the latest that Avon had to offer, visiting customers and building lifelong friendships in the process.
In 1985, she lost Clarence. But, with faith in her own independence, she continued to build on what they’d started together. She loved their home and farm and showed her pride by maintaining their place meticulously. She loved to mow and keep up their homestead. Just as it was inside the house, there was nothing out of its place on the outside.
Clarice had a little weak spot for the casino penny machines. Sometimes, when a few ladies were attending an Avon meeting in Wall, the only direct route to get there was through Deadwood.
Although she was not mighty in stature, don’t think for a second that she didn’t rule the roost… what she said went! Any one of her children or grandchildren (as she’d rattle off all of their names in sequence, only to finish with, “you know which one you are.”) can tell you that she had high expectations and being on the receiving end of her pointed finger was not a pleasant place to be.
She continued living in their home until the age of 88, still doing all of the maintenance and mowing on her own right up to the end. At that time, after a short hospital stay, the decision to move to the Golden Prairie Manor was made. She made friends there and always said if she couldn’t be home, that was the next best thing.
The actions of a person speak so much more than words. She taught her family what grace and class are by example, even in her final earthly moments. She stood strong in faith through adversity and cherished times.
Although those of us she leaves behind are heartbroken and may think, “I can’t believe she’s gone.” Those who went before her, that she’s held faithfully in her heart, are calling, “Thank God you’re finally here.”
She is preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and her husband, Clarence. Those blest to have had her touch their lives are her children: Nancy Schooley, Piedmont, AL, Judy (Dan) Kahler, Kona, HI, Ed Poler, Galt, CA, Kaye (Win) Eckerman, Winner, SD, Jim (Snow) Poler, Colome, SD. Grandchildren: Amy (Curt) Tamanaha, Gardnerville, NV, Shawn (Janet) Schooley, Alexander, ND, Chris (Dana) Turner, Piedmont, AL, Mardi (Marty) Pederson, Winner, SD, Terry (Jennifer) Eckerman, Spencer, SD, Misty (Matt) LaMere, Denver, CO, Chyanne Poler, Colome, SD. Great Grandchildren: Ty Bolton, Lacey, Dylan and Breanna Schooley, Mason and Chase Tamanaha, Cody Turner, Dylan Williams, Kali Thrash, Katie and Rexton Pederson, Grace and Owen Eckerman and Great Great Grandbaby, Maddox LaMere.
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