Clementine (Clem) Monica Privratsky, 86, of Little Rock, Arkansas, formerly of Dickinson, North Dakota, died Thursday, September 7th, 2023 in a senior living facility in Little Rock. Clementine’s Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, September 18, 2023 at 10 a.m. MT at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Keith Streifel as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, September 17, 2023 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a rosary & vigil at 6 p.m., led by Deacon Ross Reiter. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass.
Clem was born November 2, 1936 in Dickinson to Joseph and Monica (Stroh) Froehlich. Her ancestors were German Russians from several German colonies near the Black Sea in present day Ukraine and Romania. She grew up on a farm south of Belfield with views of the Rainy Buttes to the south in an area of subtle natural beauty. Bluebells and coneflowers graced those prairies, and she remembered being afraid of the moon shining so brightly some nights. Her parents worked unceasingly to build a successful farm.
Clem was the oldest of six siblings and excelled in country school. She had happy memories of winter sleigh rides and wheat threshing crews eating all her mom’s fresh homemade donuts before the kids had a chance. But when her dad, Joseph, died at age 41, Clem at age 13 had her world turned upside down. The family, with their wood frame house, moved to Dickinson. Clem’s mother Monica kept the farmland for rental income and went to work outside the home to meet the family’s needs; Clem as second in charge became chief babysitter, taskmaster, and organizer. She grew up just blocks from her two stern German grandmothers, who surely shaped her life.
To see a photo of Clem from that period is to see a slender, beaming, dark-haired beauty. In high school she excelled at shorthand and typing, worked at Winky’s Ice Cream, and then the S & L Department Store, where she was trained to be a perfectionist in displaying and selling clothing and home goods. At a dance she caught the eye of a tall, slim young man from South Heart, Edwin Privratsky, who would become her sweetheart, and they were married June 6th, 1955. For some family elders, such a marriage was borderline scandalous, a German Russian marrying a Czech, imagine that, but somehow it worked out and the universe was not torn asunder.
The couple shared a quiet Faith, devotion to their home and work, and providing good educational opportunities for their three children. Clem worked some years for Heiser Oil as a bookkeeper, then some 25 years at Gate City Bank, starting as a teller then moving into consumer lending. She liked numbers and keeping detailed records and was well liked.
Perhaps Clem’s greatest passion was her vegetable garden and kitchen. Her garden soil was and remains a treasure, built by years of composting. An endless variety of fresh produce, delicious soups, noodles, breads, rolls, and pies came from her hands. She took care to enter and categorize her food recipes on her Mac computer. She was a gracious hostess, always ready with a coffee cake when aunts or uncles or cousins stopped by for a Sunday visit.
She was devoted to St. Joseph’s Parish, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, coordinating accounting for Sunday collections, and helping with the Christian Mothers, and with the annual Mardi Gras. She also worked as a Stark County election clerk.
She and Edwin traveled over the years to the Caribbean, to Egypt and Kenya, to Costa Rica, not to fulfill their personal dreams, but to share the company of family. In retirement she returned to the embroidery she had learned while young.
Through life’s ups and downs, she remained strong mentally, physically, emotionally, and very independent. When her body and then her mind failed her in her last months, much strength remained: the will to walk, to keep going, to participate, to contribute. Even during her last days, she let caregivers know her expectations, indeed, the taskmaster remained. She retained a beautiful smile that seemed to glow brighter the younger the person she was smiling for.
Clem is survived by son Terry (Mary Kaye) Privratsky, of Little Rock, Arkansas; daughter Kerry Ann (Matt) Krebs, Dickinson; and son Kelly Privratsky, Dickinson.
Six grandchildren: Nicholas Privratsky, Little Rock, AR; Anna Privratsky (Brad) Fogel, Little Rock; Catherine (Ryan) Perry, Boulder, CO; Anthony Privratsky, Salt Lake City, UT; Jacob (Melissa) Krebs, Omaha, NE; and Evan (Tekla) Krebs, Otsego, MN. Clem has 8 great-grandchildren, Hank and Oliver Krebs, Abigail and Julia Perry, Soren and Varek Fogel, and Vincent and Violet Krebs.
Three sisters: Clara (Conrad) Dietz, Golden Valley, AZ; Lucille (Lucy) Armstrong, Moline, IL; and Bernadine (Bernie) Sparbel, Racine, WI. Two brothers: Frank (Karen) Froehlich, Sioux City, IA; and Joseph (Tanya) Froehlich, Rochester, NY. And many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin, May 11, 2015; parents, Joseph and Monica Froehlich; 3 brothers in law: Michael Morris, Charles Armstrong, and Mike Sparbel.
We remember Mom, Clem, as a driven and strong-willed woman, with high aspirations for her family. She kept a spotless home and a bountiful garden. She helped open her children’s minds to a world of endless possibilities. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren and always kept them in her heart. She and Edwin shared and imparted their belief that if you’re going to do a project or job, do it thoroughly and excel, or don’t bother.
Mom, we love you, we’ll miss you always. We will await seeing you again. We imagine you in the company of the Creator, welcomed by Edwin, your dad Joe, and mom Monica, and all who loved you.
