C.E. Denton, age 79, died at his residence in Brookings, South Dakota, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, December 31, 2005. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 7, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church in Brookings, with Rev. Teri Johnson and Rev. Carl Kline officiating. A reception will follow the memorial service at the church. The Denton family also extends an invitation to join them for fellowship and refreshments on Saturday, Jan. 7., at the SDSU Alumni Center from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the C.E. and Margaret Denton Theatre Fund for Faculty DevelopmentSDSU Foundation, or First United Methodist Church in Brookings. Clare was born January 20, 1926, in Atwood, Kansas, to Marjorie and Clarence Denton. He graduated from Hastings, Nebraska, High School in 1944. After serving in World War II, he was honorable discharged from the U.S. Army in 1946. He received his B.S. degree in Education from the University of Nebraska in 1950; his M.A. degree in Speech from Louisiana State University in 1954; and his M.F.A. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1966. He married his high school classmate, Margaret Hunter, in 1946. They lived in Hastings, Nebraska; Tecumseh, Nebraska; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Lincoln, Nebraska, before moving to Brookings in 1956. Clare retired as Professor Emeritus from the Department of Communication Studies and Theatre at SDSU in 1991. In his 35 years, he directed and designed over 100 productions at SDSU and Prairie Repertory Theatre. The Graduate College named him SDSU Teacher of the Year in 1990. During his tenure at SDSU, he received grants and sabbaticals for the study of theatre and film in Minneapolis, New York, England, Scotland, and Greece; served on a variety of academic committees; and was a member of the National Social Science Honor Society, Pi Gamma Mu. Clare taught classes in theatre and film, receiving numerous grants from the Mundt Foundation and the State Committee on the Humanities in support of his film projects and film classes at SDSU. He was one of the founders of Prairie Repertory Theatre and its first Director. He also wrote, directed, and produced films on higher education, land use, and Dakota/Lakota issues, creating landmark work that introduced Native American issues to a wider audience. During retirement, he enjoyed being part o the Golden Mentoring program for the Medary Elementary fifth grade students. He shared stories of life when he was their age and introduced then to the films To Kill a Mockingbird, Journey, and Rabbit Proof Fence. Clare and Margaret served as co-chairs of the Brookings United Way in 1996. He was actively involved in the United Methodist Church, the South Dakota art Museum, and the new Performing Arts Center. He also wrote and produced the film Projecting Faith 1904--2004 for the First United Methodist Church Centennial celebration, and In The SunNation of Hope for the Haiti Solar Oven Project. Clare enjoyed summers on Lake Oakwood, travel, movies, plays, and especially spending time with family and friends. Clare is survived by his spouse, Margaret, of Brookings; his children and grandchildren: Mark and Lynn Denton, Matt and Katie, of Austin, Texas, Chris and Carolyn Denton, Will and Jack, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Melissa Denton and Dana Farner of East Orange, New Jersey; step-brother, Doug Denton and his wife Gretchen; and a step-sister, Pam Denton; special nieces and nephews; and a wide circle of friends.