Claudia Kay (Daugherty) Sangster was born on March 26, 1947, at Broken Bow, Nebraska, the oldest child of Claude and Dorothy (Baker) Daugherty.  She passed away peacefully on July 11, 2023, at the age of 76 years at the Sanford Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by many of her family members.

Claudia and her three siblings grew up on a farm near Merna, Nebraska. She attended school in Merna and while in high school she played volleyball, was in the pep club, sang in the Glee club and played the saxophone in band. She graduated high school in 1965. During her senior year and into the summer she worked at the café in Merna where she met a special construction worker.

Claudia and Robert (Bob) Sangster were united in marriage on September 4, 1965 in Merna, Nebraska, which led to 57 years of marriage. When Bob and Claudia were first married they traveled and lived in many towns while Bob was working on road construction. During this time their daughters were born – Cheryl Marie and Brenda Kay.

Bob and Claudia moved to their farm south of Herrick in 1972, where they still reside. They worked together milking cows and farming for many years. Claudia always had a big vegetable garden that she used the fruits of her labor to can the produce to use through out the winter. She enjoyed her flower gardens and was always willing to share her knowledge and plants with anyone that wanted some. Claudia worked part time at the Whetstone Station in Herrick, where many games of pitch were played. She was a member of the State Line Homemakers extension club and the Cowbelles.  She also helped with the West River Wranglers 4-H club and the Herrick Mustang softball team that her daughters were members of.

After the milk cows were sold Claudia worked for the Schweigert Road Construction crew and at the Long Branch in Burke, SD. When the Burke Pump n Stuff opened she started managing the convenience store. Claudia was usually the person to open the store very early in the morning and made sure the coffee was ready when the crew arrived. She retired from the Pump n Stuff in December of 2009.

Bob and Claudia enjoyed playing many games of canasta with good friends and meeting with old friends at different campgrounds during camping season and driving to new places to explore. She also looked forward to meeting up with her friends for lunch and coffee when possible. After she retired she spent a lot of time quilting and was a member of the Rosebud Quilt Guild. She made sure each grandchild and great-grandchild had a quilt for special occasions, like graduations and when they were born.

Claudia also enjoyed following her granddaughters' school and college events. If she couldn't be there in person she was by the radio listening! She also enjoyed attending the Wednesday bible study group that met in Bonesteel.

She was preceded by her parents, in-laws – Bert and Jessie Sangster, Brother-in-law – Glen Mahanke and niece – Lora Ann (Mahanke) Petersen.

Claudia is survived by her husband, her two daughters – Cheryl (Dan) Baxa, Herrick, SD and Brenda Sangster, Dante, SD. Her Granddaughters – Dana (Travis) Byrd, Mitchell, SD, Chelsa (Dan) Jons, St. Charles, SD, Mandy (Kelvin) VanHill, Inwood, IA. Her Great Grandchildren – Kaleb, Alivia and Wesley Byrd; Jase, Sadie, Dakota and Hallie Jons; Kaylee, Briggs & Etta VanHill, Makayla (Sebastian) Montoya and Giovanni. Her siblings – Dwight (Patti) Daugherty, Darla (Ron) McCleary and Carma (Rob) Hartman; Sister-in-law – Elaine Mahanke and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD. Burial will be in the Herrick Cemetery, Herrick, SD.  There will be a prayer service on Friday at 6:00 PM at the funeral home.  Visitation will be one hour prior to both services at the funeral home.