Clara Grace (Love) Duncan Thompson

Known as Little Clara

Jan 1, 1923 – Apr 27, 2026

Clara was born on Jan 1, 1923, to Wesley and Maude Love, in

a small cabin on Upper French Creek Road in Custer, SD.

There is a lot to say about one who has lived to be 103yrs old. Clara

was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandma, great

grandma, lived to meet her great-great grand kids and was also a great-

great-great grandma. She was loving, gracious, giving, independent,

strong-willed, determined and disciplined. And she gave everything she

had to the family.

Clara was about 4yrs old when she and her parents went to Detroit,

Mi. to work in the Ford factory. Shortly thereafter her parents divorced.

They lived in an upper story apartment and at night would lay by the

window overlooking main street venders and a Chinese laundry. Her mom

worked several jobs to make ends meet so Clara basically took care of

herself. She would walk down to Macy’s as there was a special floor the

kids would go to and play while the parents shopped. When she was 8yrs

old she had a paper route selling newspapers for a penny and a half. She

would walk 10 blocks to the bakery to buy bread for a penny, which was all

they had to eat a lot of the time.

When her mom remarried, they moved back to the Black Hills when

she was 10yrs old. Her mother told her to put a sign on their car for $15.00

but Clara put $25.00 on it and sold it right away. They packed up and she

rode in the rumble seat of an old Buick.

From the age of 10 through 16 she lived with her grandparents, Frank

and Abigail Tubbs on their homestead on Elliott Road in Custer, SD. He

had a big impact on her life teaching her values and every evening they

would sit and read the bible. She learned a lot about life from him as she

helped take care of them. It was interesting to hear the story of how her

grandfather traded with the Lakota Indians and was a special friend of

Chief Sitting Bull who died in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre.

Her grandfather panned for gold with his homemade rocker and

traded it for coffee, flour and sugar. Her grandmother ran a still which was

paid for by the local moonshiner until he was caught, but they never located

Abigail’s still.

She would walk a mile to the “Mile High” schoolhouse in the mornings

through all the snow, was the first one to arrive and would get the fire going

for her teacher. Her favorite memories were of her and her cousin Mecia,

horseback riding and camping under the stars in the limestone cragy rocks

of the black hills.

At 16yrs old she married Lawrence Duncan who was 24yrs old. Her

uncle had lied about her age, putting she was 18yrs old on the marriage

license. At 17yrs old she had her first son, Les, and three years later had

Larry. When the boys were young, they lived a short time in Laramie, Wy

but spent most of their life in Custer, Sd. She raised their two boys, Les

and Larry, mostly by herself as their dad passed away when Les was 16

and Larry was 12. She was single for 7 years working at the State Hospital.

She raised cows and chickens and made money selling cottage cheese

and eggs all while taking care of her ailing mother for 10 years.

Clara met Floyd Thompson and was married for 18 years. In that

time, they spent 10 years in Montana where her son Larry, started Stryker

Post & Pole. They logged timber, cut and peeled posts, which became

their livelihood. Clara maintained the books as well as drove truck with her

husband. Larry’s wife, Mary Ann, tended to their 4 kids, Renee’, Jess, Ruby

and Shane who worked alongside them. Larry had a large draft horse

named Dolly for skidding trees and Clara was the only one who could

handle her.

When Clara’s Aunt died in Custer she inherited her grandfather’s

ranch with a lifetime estate. Upon returning she got her job back at the

state hospital. She always kept busy, never missing a day of work,

returning home to feed her cows, maintaining her garden, preserving and

canning and helping raise her grandchildren.

Clara’s passion was her garden which she worked in until she was

about 99yrs old. She also loved sitting in the yard on her swing. After her

son Larry passed her daughter-in-law Sharlot Duncan, as well as her

grandkids Jess, Natalie and Shane, cared for her when she couldn’t get

around, helped her with the things in her house and around the property.

She never asked for anything because she was the type of person

that what she had was enough. So, all the gifts she received, out of

respect, were gifted back to them when she passed.

Throughout the years the family would come and visit or stay in

touch. Clara’s kids, grandkids and even great-great grandkids have learned

many valuable lessons telling stories of how she impacted their lives.

She was preceded in death by both husbands, her sons Les and

Larry and cousins Betty Gould, Mecia Clifford and Paddy Everett.

She is survived by her daughter in law Sharlot Duncan who was by

her side since 1986 and was her care giver for her last 6 years, her ex-

daughter in law Mary Ann Duncan, grandchildren (from Larry and Mary

Ann) Renee’, Jess, Ruby and Shane Duncan, grandchildren (from Les)

Carla, Bunny, and Laura, step grandchildren (of Larry from Sharlot) Traci,

Natalie, Deborah and Kathy, several great grandchildren great-great

grandchildren as well as great-great-great grandchildren.

Clara will be placed to rest in Custer Cemetery with her family. A

memorial and celebration of life will be held once a date is determined.

We remember you yesterday, think of you today and cherish the

thoughts that will come every tomorrow.

Clara will be placed to rest in Custer Cemetery with her family. A memorial and celebration of life will be held once a date is determined.