Alice Claussen

ALICE WALTERS CLAUSSENWidow of Paul D. Claussen, a well-known retired professional with The Boy Scouts of America, passed away. Alice was the daughter of L.D. and Mattie Walters of Arlington, SD, and as a young girl was disappointed she was not a boy, as she worked hard as bat girl and scorekeeper for her dad who managed a semi-pro baseball team. She got Babe Ruth's autograph on a baseball and herself was good in softball and track. But her greatest love became her four sons , her husband, and her work with him in the Boy Scouts of America, where she was given "first lady" status while he was General Manager at the Philmont Scout Ranch. She served as den leader, Boy Scout committeeman, and on the district teams, and was awarded the coveted Silver Beaver. But ahead of all else, her love of her Lord and her church permeated her life. She was active in both the Lutheran and Methodist churches. She was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist in Albuquerque. She was involved with the women's groups, taught Sunday school for 30 years, and was into church Christian education and drama. She was a member of the American Legion Auxilary, the 8 et 40, the Sorosis Clubs and several PEO chapters in different cities. At St. Paul's she helped initiate the bread ministry for visitors and welcomed so many as they entered for worship. She is survived by three of her five sons, Craig in Green Valley, AZ, Rex in Tuscon, and Mark and his wife, Paula, and their children Natalie and Adam in the San Diego area. She was so proud of her late son, Kurt, also a professional Boy Scouter, who had such great influence on so many scouts and adults in his short lifetime. She is grateful for all the volunteers in the areas she worked, who helped make this place a better world, and for her sons who were in the country's military. She, like her husband, lived this philosophy of life, "In a hundred years, it will not matter what kind of house I lived in, what kind of car I drove, or what was the size of my bank account, but that I was important in the lives of youth." A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm on November 11, 2012, 9500 Constitution Ave. NE. Interment of her cremains will be in the family plot in Arlington, SD along-side her parents, her two sons, and Paul. She is survived by sisters, Joyce Schlack of Rapid City and Shirley Jacobs of Freeport, IL. She was preceded in death by her brother, Dave; and sisters, Lorraine Rasmussen and Mavis McNally. She leaves behind many loving friends; nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 9500 Constitution Blvd. NE.