Clara Brown, age 92, of Hendricks, MN, and formerly of Brookings and Astoria, SD, passed away on Friday, January 26, 2024.  Visitation will be from 2:00-3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Astoria with a funeral service starting at 3:00 P.M.  Burial will follow at Bethany Cemetery.  Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Clara was born on May 16, 1931, to Yules and Hilda (Arp) Bekaert in rural Gary, SD.  She grew up near Gary and attended country school.  On June 26, 1950, Clara married Frank Brown.  The couple moved to Porter, MN from 1954-1959 and then returned back to the Astoria area where they raised their family.  Later in life, Clara moved to Brookings.

Clara was a very hard worker.  She worked as a painter, housekeeper, bus driver, and as a receptionist for the Brookings County Sheriff's Office.  Clara truly enjoyed going on road trips and bus trips with her friends.  She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Brookings and Bethel Lutheran Church in Astoria. In her younger years, Clara was an active member of the Astoria Auxiliary.

Survivors include her children;  James (Mary) Brown of Toronto, and Cindy (Lonnie) Robish of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren; Michael Robbins, Derek "Bud" (Logan) Brown, and Jessica (Tanner) McClain; and three great-grandchildren, Clara Robbins, Laken Brown, and Matthew Robbins,; step-grandchildren, Zach Zencius, Heather (Mike) Shay and Grace (Dominick) Zencius-Whiskur; step great-grandchildren, Maddox and Hayden Shay; brother, Albert Bekaert of Gary; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Marilyn; one granddaughter, Jennifer; step-grandson, Seth Zencius; and siblings, Leon, Ray, Liz, Donny, and Mary.