Cleo Vivian Belk, age 100, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at her place of residence. Memorial services will be a private family gathering at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Monday May 17, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Cheryl Rondeau-Bassett of Grace Lutheran Church will officiate. Special music will be provided by granddaughter Sarah Beth Surprenant, Judy Everson, and A.J. Sherrill. The memorial service will be live-streamed on Crawford-Osthus Funeral website (crawfordosthus.com) and Facebook page.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown, SD. Urnbearers will be her seven grandchildren: Chad Kettering, Travis Gunderson, Colette Parish, Coby Smith, Christen Clausen, Sarah Beth Surprenant, and Meghan Maguire.
Cleo Belk was born the daughter of Fred and Leah Crawford on February 7, 1921 in Roswell, SD, and baptized in Bethany Lutheran Church on May 29, 1921, in Howard, SD. She was confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church on March 31, 1935, in Wallace, SD.
Cleo attended country schools and graduated from Henry High School in 1939. While in high school, Cleo fell in love and married her high school sweetheart, Harold Belk on August 30, 1942, at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. They were blessed with three daughters, Carol, Lynn, and Mary Beth.
For several years they farmed north of Henry, SD, where Cleo worked alongside her husband on the farm. They moved to Watertown, SD, in 1955. During her life time she worked at Marquardt Services, Loken's Sales Pavilion, Brown Clinic, and Watertown City Hall.
Cleo was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, where she was active in Church Circle, and served on various boards and committees.
Through the years she loved being involved with friends in Henryettes, Birthday Club, Elderly Elves, P.E.O. Chapter BI, and Card Club.
In 2018, she moved to Edgewood Assisted Living Center where she continued with activities, card playing, and making new friends. Cleo loved spending time with her family, visiting friends, and preparing delicious foods she shared with others. Cooking and baking were her passions to such an extent that her grandchildren suggested she write a cookbook of family recipes. She wrote a 240 page handwritten cookbook that has recipe favorites for all family members which she gathered through the years from friends.
Turning 100 on February 7, 2021, was her major goal which she accomplished with grace, dignity and daily zooming with her family to stay connected. She was over the moon with zoom technology which was in her apartment and created especially for her called, "The Cleo" by its technology creators. Imagine a life that spans technology from the Model T to video collaboration.
Cleo is survived by daughters, Carol Schutt, Watertown, SD, Lynn (Bob) Reiter, Redlands, CA, and Mary Beth (Neil) Bassett, Sedona, AZ; one brother, Richard "Dick" (Eileen) Crawford, Redfield, SD; seven grandchildren, Chad (Jennifer) Kettering, Colette (Dana) Parish, Christen (Chad) Clausen, Travis (Yolie) Gunderson, Coby (Dallas) Smith, Sarah Beth (Michael) Surprenant, Meghan (Scott) Maguire and 18 great-grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, son-in-law, Bill Schutt, brother-in-law Lyle "Bud" Belk, sister-in-law, Phyllis Ptak and brother-in-law, Bill Ptak.
Memorials may be sent to Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown, SD.
Service Details.
Service
When: May 17, 2021 2:00pm
Location: Crawford - Osthus Funeral Chapel, Watertown
Address: Crawford - Osthus Funeral Chapel, Watertown Notes Private Family Memorial
Service
Only
Interment
Location: Mt. Hope Cemetery
Address: 1133 11th Ave NE Watertown, SD 57201
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