Minnie Mae Claggett | 1930 - 2024
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jan 17, 2024 | 11:02 AM / 189 views
Minnie Mae Claggett, 94, of Pierre, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre, surrounding by her family.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 22, 2024, at the Onida Methodist Church, Onida, with Pastor Jeff Adel presiding. Burial will follow in the Onida Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, January 21, 2024, at the church.
Minnie Mae Flood was born on January 8, 1930, at home assisted by the midwife in Okobojo, South Dakota, to Emil and Mollie (Weischedel) Flood. Before her first birthday, tragedy struck when her mom succumbed to spinal meningitis. She was taken to her Uncle Gus’ home where her Aunt Stella (Weischedel) Brehe and the five older children began to spoil her. She always mentioned how spoiled she was, and she loved that. After the death of her father in 1934, she was joined by her sister, Hazel. They grew up on the family farm, and she attended country school and then high school in Agar, graduating in 1948. In her junior year, Minnie Mae was a delegate to the first Girls State Convention. After graduation, she lived around Agar until she was finally sent to Maryland where her oldest sister, Vera, lived. It was said that she began to get a little “wild”, so Aunt Stella sent her to Maryland.
While in Maryland, she worked at various jobs, and this is where she met her future husband, Richard Claggett. They were married in April 1953, and they made their home in and around Rockville, Maryland. In January 1965, Minnie Mae gave birth to twin daughters, Laura and Linda. Sadly, they died shortly after they were born.
Minnie Mae worked at J.C. Penney’s for over 20 years as a salesperson. She retired in 1993. Her hobbies were bowling, embroidery, reading, and solving crossword puzzles. She remained in Maryland until she decided to come home to South Dakota in 2009. Joe and Glenda Nedved flew to her home and escorted her to Parkwood Apartments in Pierre. Her sister, Alice, and cousin, Delma Newling, helped her get reacquainted with her family and friends in the area. Since she had no children of her own, she enjoyed being with her nieces, nephews, and friends. She loved sending cards to her family and friends, and she rarely missed a birthday or holiday. She kept her mailing list and address book beside her at all times.
She was a vital source of information, and we will greatly miss her wisdom. When Minnie Mae moved from her apartment into Edgewood Vista, she had the chance to reacquaint herself with old friends and meet new friends. She had a special friendship with Neil Rausch while living there. When she had visitors, she always had a bowl of chocolates to offer her guests. Every night she called or received a phone call from her longtime friend, Loretta Rivers from Gaithersburg, MD. They engaged in a 45-minute visit and at times it would be an hour long.
She is survived by her best friend, Loretta Rivers, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; twin daughters; biological parents, Emil and Mollie Flood; adopted parents, Gus and Stella Weischedel Brehe; sisters: Vera (Bill) Seymour, Alma (Leonard) McDonnell, Hazel (Phil) Marshall, Alice (Harold) West, Grace (Fred) Smith, Myrtle (Verne) Pearson, Arlene (Doc) Pruess; brothers, Cal (Pauline) Brehe and Charles Brehe. She was the last of the Weischedel first cousins.
Memorials may be sent to Edgewood Vista, 1950 E 4th St, Pierre, SD 57501.