Clarence Mast went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 28, 2009 at his home in Volga. He was surrounded by his wife of fifty-seven years and his loving children and grandchildren. We rejoice in the knowledge that he is in his Fathers arms. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, June 1, 2009, at the First Reformed Church in Volga, with interment and military rites at Trinity Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4-8 P.M. Sunday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga.

Clarence was born November 17, 1924, to Nick and Mary (Meyer) Mast in Volga, South Dakota. He attended elementary school at a country school in Brookings County. Following graduation from Volga High School, Clarence attended South Dakota State University and worked on his fathers farm. In addition to farming, he hauled milk for the CO-OP and installed Bell Telephone lines. Clarence was drafted into the Army and served as a Sergeant in Japan during the aftermath of World War II. He was recalled in 1951 and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean War. Upon his return to South Dakota, he began working as a plumber for his brother Peter at Mast Plumbing and Heating. From 1960 to his retirement in 1989, Clarence worked for the US Postal Service as a rural letter carrier.

Clarence married Harriet Van Beek on August 5, 1952, at the Christian Reformed Church in Volga, South Dakota. They had five daughters and one son. They were also blessed with fifteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Clarence grew up in the Christian Reformed Church of Volga and later became a member of the First Reformed Church also in Volga. Clarence served as elder, deacon, Sunday School superintendent, and catechism teacher. He was also a loyal supporter and board member of the Volga Christian School.

Clarence and Harriet spent many years traveling the country working for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and the Red Cross. During that time, they built and repaired homes damaged in natural disasters. Clarence also donated many hours of service to the Hope Haven Wheelchairs for Hope Ministry. He was a member of the American Legion and the Rural Letter Carriers Association and served his local community as mayor from 1977 to 1979. Clarences favorite pastime was attending auction sales buying scrap metal for junking. He will be fondly remembered for his many jokes and stories.

Survivors include his wife, Harriet (Van Beek) Mast; four daughters, Patricia Mast, Deb (Wayne) Ulvestad, Linda (Randy) Gross, all of Volga, and Kimberly (Kip) Kludt of Watertown, South Dakota; a daughter-in-law, Lisa (Pete) DeVries, of Gretna, Nebraska; eleven grandchildren, Sasha Ulvestad, Ty (Megan) Gross and baby girl, Cassie (Brandon) Ridgeway, Trevor (Kelsey) Gross, Colette Gross, Nick Mast, Andrea Mast, Brittany Kludt, Jordan Kludt, Katie DeVries and Mike (Theresa) DeVries and their daughter Gracie; a sister, Jeanette (Henry) DeLange, of Platte, South Dakota; four sisters-in-law: Nellie Mast of Brookings, Jane Mast of Volga, Clara Mast of Volga, and Ruth Story of Denver, Colorado. He was preceded in death by a son, Rodney; a daughter, Kathy Richardson; a son-in-law, Marvin Richardson; a great-grandchild; his parents; brothers, John, Herman, Peter, and Henry; and sisters, Anna Koopman and Hilda Bloomendaal.