Della Mae Clark was born Aug. 28, 1919, in Williston to Samuel J. and Mary (Saunders) Clark. After completing high school in Trenton near the family farm, she graduated from the Dakota Business College in Fargo and worked briefly for an attorney.
On Dec. 12, 1938, she married Stephen Taylor and the couple moved first to Fargo, then to Jamestown in 1947, where Steve was foreman of the Northern Pacific Railway Feed, Water and Rest Yard for the next quarter century. For several decades, Della was an invaluable helpmate to Steve in his railroad, farming and cattle ranching operations. The couple also kept a herd of Shetland ponies for many years.
In addition to raising four children, Della enjoyed a number of avocations, including crocheting, leather tooling, square dancing and horseback riding to name a few.
She touched many lives with her charitable work, including delivery of Meals on Wheels and church circle work while an active member for many years of the First United Methodist Church in Jamestown and the Eastern Star. Della Mae is survived by two sons, Donald Taylor, Valley City and Thomas (Lahna) Taylor, Boise, Idaho; two daughters, Jeanette (Rodney) Schluter, Valley City and Anita (Richard) Nelson, Marathon, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Dede, Marcia, David, Holly, Chelsey, Jason, Julie and Steven and 11 great-grandchildren, Amber, Jon, Kirsten, Morgan, Nathan, Taylor, Katelyn, Nick, Isabella, Shelby and Ethan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 65 years, Steve; four brothers, Edwin, Bryon, Charles and Sam; two sisters, Ruth and Marion; one grandchild, Curtis and one great-grandchild, Thomas. A daughter-in-law, Elaine, followed her in death on Dec. 1, 2008.
Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown, was in charge of arrangements. Committal is on Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the Riverview Cemetery, Williston.
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