STEVENS, Clara A.

STEVENS, SIECK, MARTENS, ZANDERS, BASS

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 11/12/2004 at 06:28:50

Clara A. Stevens, 99, of Malvern, died Dec. 30, 2002. at the Manor of Malvern. Funeral services were held Jan. 2, 2003, at the Peterson Mortuary in Glenwood. Rev. Michael Stevens and Rev. Ted Sieck officiated at the servce. Burial was at the Malvern Cemetery.

Mrs. Stevens was the daughter of Marcus and Ange Katharina (Martens) Sieck, born Jan. 20, 1903, in rural Mills County. Her early education came from a rural school near Madison, Neb. She then attended Wayne Nebraska Normal School where she received her teaching certificate. Picture her driving a horse and buggy to her school room with her nephew, Lawrence Sieck, at her side as one of her first students. Together they would stoke the fire and bring in the water for the day. It was near Madison that she met her future husband, but in those days the school teacher was not allowed to be married and resume her job. She was united in marriage to Frank Oliver Stevens Sr. on Dec. 5, 1923, in Council Bluffs. They farmed in the area, and Frank Jr. was born in Norfolk, Neb. The young family moved to farming opportunities near Papillion, Neb., by moving their farming machinery, animals and household possessions by train. They joined partnership in farming and cattle feeding with her brother, Rudolph, moving south of Council Bluffs where daughters Genelle and Sharon were born. At this time, Mrs. Stevens was busy bookkeeping, having a large garden and raising poultry by incubating chicken and turkey eggs with primitive equipment, by today’s standards, all in an effort to supplement their income. She was active in community affairs and served on the rural school district board of education. In moving to their farm south of Malvern, she undertook another challenge of renovating a rural school house into their home and building a farmstead around that. Later came their move to Malvern in the home presently occupied by Mike and Denise Stevens. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church, and her interests expanded to include various church activities, U.M.W., the clothing recycling center-thrift shop in the old Presbyterian church building, school activities, Band Mothers, as well as serving on the Malvern School Board of Education and civic duties, such as the zoning board, Busy Bees and the 4-H club. After her husband passed away, Mrs. Stevens busied herself in such things as establishing and managing the Congregate Meal Site for senior citizens in Malvern. Never one to sit idle, she was constantly a contributor to her church and community and probably kept things pretty stirred up during her many years at the Manor of Malvern.

Mrs. Stevens was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers William Henry, Albert Marcus, John Rudolph, Theodore Detlef, Adolph Walter, Bernhardt Alfred and Arthur Edward (Doc); and sisters Alice Matilda and two infant sisters. She is survived by son Frank Stevens Jr. and wife Shirley of Malvern; daughters Genelle Zanders and husband Dan of Omaha, Neb., and Sharon Bass and husband Richard of Malvern; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Malvern United Methodist Women or Diabetic research.

Peterson-Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.