Clara Hickey

Clara L. Hickey, age 100, of Willmar, died Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 20, at the Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 25, at the Church of St. Mary. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Sunday, Jan. 24, with Parish Prayers at 5 PM and a Daughters of Isabella Rosary service at 7 PM at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. Visitation will also continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Leukemia Foundation are preferred or the American Cancer Society.

Clara Lillian Isdahl was born August 10th, 1909, to Cora (Nissen) and Ludvig Isdahl in a sod house in Harding County, South Dakota. The family moved to a farm north of Long Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota when she was four years old. To help her family out, she left home at the age of twelve to work, first as a nanny/housekeeper and later as a waitress and cook in Willmar. In 1932, she married Arthur Michael Hickey (1896-1974) of Lamberton. They were blessed with three children: Margaret Ann Hickey (1934-1944); Mary (Hickey) Adkins and John Michael Hickey.

Clara was a charter member of the Daughters of Isabella and the oldest living member at her death, she was awarded the Bishop's Medal of Service for her many, many years of hard work and dedication to her beloved church.

Clara was a gifted seamstress, baker and cook. Her homemade rye bread won many ribbons at the County Fair and her doughnuts are legendary among her family and friends. Forged by her pioneer beginnings, she was strong, determined and never met a problem she didn't try to fix. More often than not, she was successful. She never stopped living her life as fully as she could, and conveyed that enthusiasm to all who encountered her. An ordinary life, extraordinarily well-lived, for more than 100 years. Bravo, Clara!

Clara Hickey is survived by her daughter, Mary, of Saint Paul, son Jack, of Willmar, and four grandchildren: Thomas (and Kim) Adkins of Tacoma, Washington; Sara Adkins (and Jill Alexander) of Philadelphia; David (and Janet) Adkins of Ashburn, Virginia; and Daniel (and Athena) Adkins of St. Paul. She also had four great-grandchildren: Ryland Adkins and Camryn Adkins of Ashburn and Jackson Adkins and Emilio Adkins of Saint Paul. Her brother, Robert (and Dorothy) Isdahl remain in Mankato. She had many cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as an 'adopted' son, Frank Johnson of Memphis. Clara was blessed with so many kind and caring friends over the years who continued to be such a pleasure to her until her final days. Nephew Dennis Murphy was especially devoted to her.

May she rest in eternal peace.