Dorothy M. Clarkson Teague

Dorothy M. Clarkson Teague took leave of her residence at Edgewood Vista in Spearfish, South Dakota, on October 16, 2024, at the age of 102.

Dotty was born in Berthoud, Colorado, on May 18, 1922, to Vernet and Lenore (Woods) Marsh. She joined two brothers, Kenny and Stan, and together they had many adventures there with family and friends – adventures that would continue for the next 100+ years.

At 14, the family moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where she graduated from Laramie High School.

While in Laramie, she worked at the local jewelry store and theater. In 1940, she met a young UW student, Herb Clarkson, who, with his brother Leroy, rented a basement apartment from the Marsh family.

Dotty and Herb were married in the summer of 1942, living and working first on the family ranch north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, as well as Tombstone, Arizona, and Miles City, Montana, before settling on the Clarkson Family farm east of Belle Fourche, where they spent the next 45 years raising their family of five children. 

In 1992, they purchased a home on Sand Creek south of Beulah, Wyoming, where they enjoyed the fair-weather months entertaining family and friends while wintering in Queen Valley, Arizona.

Herb died in 2003, and in 2011, after reconnecting several years earlier, Dotty married long-time family friend and Herb's Class of '40 Belle Fourche classmate, Howard Teague. Together they spent his remaining years traveling extensively as well as entertaining and reminiscing with family and friends.

At Howard's death in 2013 and with failing eyesight, Dotty no longer felt comfortable driving and decided it best to move to town. To Edgewood Vista she went, spending the last decade of her life lighting up each room she entered.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother, Van; brothers, Kenny and his wife Maxine, Stan and his wife Betty; brother, Donovan; brother-in-law, Don Breidenbach; husband, Herb Clarkson; daughter, Kelli Clarkson; son, Scott Clarkson; and second husband, Howard Teague. 

Left to hold dear her memory are her sister, Marilyn Breidenbach; daughters, Karen Clarkson (Doug Anderson), Cathy (Gerry) Bennett; son, Jeb (Maureen) Clarkson; daughter-in-law, Mary Clarkson; grandchildren, Heidi (Matt) Stefanich, Dylan (Nicki) Clarkson, Trey (Brittany) Clarkson, Mason Bennett, Shelby (Chris) Ewert, Bailee (Wes) Fremont; great grandchildren, Logan and Myles Stefanich, Benjamin and Elyse Clarkson, Sawyer, Lennon and Maddox Clarkson, Bodhi and Bella Bennett, Grace and Olivia Cihak, Porter, Lincoln and Rowan Fremont; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and Howard Teague's children, Doug (Jan) Teague, Richard (Charee) Teague, Ed (Sue) Teague and Allen (Colleen) Teague – a legacy of which she was infinitely proud.

Services for Dotty were held at the First United Congregational Church, Belle Fourche, SD on Tuesday, October 22 under the direction of Kline Funeral Chapel. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has established memorials to the Congregational Church and the local P.E.O. Chapter AT, of which she was a 62-year member.

The funeral was livestreamed and can be viewed on Dotty's obituary page at klinefuneralchapel.com

An online guest book is available at klinefuneralchapel.com