Avis Hardie, age 92, of Clear Lake, SD passed away on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at the Sanford Deuel County Medical Center in Clear Lake, SD. Funeral service will be held at 11:00a.m. on Tuesday, June 20th at the First Congregational Church in Clear Lake. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake. Houseman Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Avis Vivian Jones was born August 22, 1930, to Lloyd and Edith (Tranter) Jones. She attended country schools and graduated Clear Lake High School in 1948 and SDS (South Dakota State) at Brookings in 1952. She taught in Clark High School and the Brandt schools before getting married to Russell Hardie in 1953. Four children were born to this union. She worked as a Home Demonstration Agent and for the US Postal Service until retirement. She joined 4-H when she was eight years old, and the highlight of her 4-H career was when she won the State 4-H Dress Review at the SD State Fair, earning her a trip to the Little International in Chicago, IL. She was an OES member for 60 years, and a Grand Officer. After her retirement, she joined NARFE, and was Legislative Chair. She represented SD at the Legislative Triennial Session in Washington, DC. During her years as Legislative Chair, she worked with the Congressional Leaders and Governor. Avis chaired the Lakeview Cemetery Board as director for over a decade. She supported and was a member of the Consumer Ed Advisory Board, Sylvan Circle and established the Edith Jones Memorial Scholarship, all at SDSU. She traveled with the OES group to all regions in the US, Canada, Nova Scotia and Europe. For 20 years, she spent her winters in Mesa, AZ and California. She was an avid golfer (first secretary of the Clear Lake Golf Club), bowler and bridge player. Sewing occupied most of her time from her 4-H days throughout her life and leaves a large collection of Hardanger. She enjoyed following her grandchildren’s activities and visited their college campuses in California, Nebraska, North Carolina, SDSU, Augustana and USD. Avis was a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ, Congregational Church, and served in various offices of the church.
She is survived by her children: Scott (Beth) and David of Watertown, Pamela of Sioux Falls, Stuart (Sydney) of San Clemente, CA. Grandchildren: Christian (Erin) and Grey Jensen, Sawyer, Savannah, Haley (Juan), Courtney, Kelsey, Heath, Cassidy and Tigh Hardie, Alexa and Lydia Buckley, and great-grandchild Catherine Laurel Jensen. She was preceded in death by her husband Russell, her parents, sisters Phyllis, Joyce, Helen and step-grandson Nate Buckley.
