Adele Elizabeth Clark Sudlow, age 92, of Brookings, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 at the Neighborhoods at Brookview.
Born Jan. 19, 1927 to Hannah Elizabeth Matson Clark and William James Clark in Vermillion, where she was raised on a farm and attended country school. She graduated with a degree in piano performance from the University of South Dakota before becoming the Extension Music Specialist at South Dakota State College. While working for the Extension Service she met the love of her life and married Leland Lloyd Sudlow on October 4, 1953 at the Dalesburg Baptist Church.
Adele’s world was centered around music and music organizations. Adele was one of the first music teachers from South Dakota to be chosen to work with Fred Waring in Pennsylvania in 1952. In 2000, Adele was the first music teacher from South Dakota to have been honored for fifty years of teaching piano and organ.
Besides being very active in her church, Adele participated in numerous community organizations such as PEO, NARFE, Brookings Area Retired Teachers Association, Golden K Kiwanis, Le Chapeau Rouge Red Hat Society, Brookings Genealogical Society, and in 4-H as a 4-H leader.
Adele was so proud to have volunteered at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum where she worked on the Sudlow Archives, volunteered at the South Dakota Art Museum, at McCrory Gardens, and at the Brookings County History Museum at Volga.
Survivors include her children Patrice (Donald) Lee, Leland (Gail) Sudlow, Michelle (Scott) VanderWal, grandchildren Ryan (Jesse) Sudlow, Erin (Sam) Yoder, Dan (Kristen) Lee, Rachel (Nick) Anderson, Kyle (Allyson) VanderWal, Austin (Vanessa) VanderWal, and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and infant great-granddaughter Ellie VanderWal.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2019, at Peace Lutheran Church in Brookings with visitation one hour prior to the funeral. Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Interment will be at Bluff View Cemetery in Vermillion.
Memorials in Adele’s honor may be directed to:
South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum
977 11th Street
SDSU Box 601
Brookings, SD 57007
