Clifton Levi Tuffy Clark was born June 28, 1925 at Healy, Kansas to Walter and Cinthia (Morley) Clark, one of their eight children. He died June 3, 2006 at the Avera Gregory Healthcare Center in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 80 years, 11 months and 5 days.

Tuffy moved with his family to Wood, South Dakota in 1930. He began working for himself at an early age, after all He was the best boss he ever had. He joined the Marines and served with the First Tank Battalion, First Marine Division. His time spent in the South Pacific included tours in Pele Lu, Okinawa, the Russell Islands and China. He thought everyone should be free or that everyone deserved freedom.

The Wood native had lived in Dallas, South Dakota since 1978. He was retired from the salvage business.

Tuffy was married to Betty Struck in 1946 and had eight children. He was then remarried to Boots Balcom in 1988.

Tuffy was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Charles Bud, Calvin and Clayton; and one sister, Cristina Teen Burnham.

Tuffy is survived by one brother, Cleve of Sparks, NV; two sisters: Clarabelle Pavlis and Virginia Wang of Gregory, SD; eight children: Barbara Hayes of Cheyenne, WY; Sandra Maxwell of Cheyenne, WY; Betty Morgan of Rawlins, WY; Karen Stieben of Fort Collins, CO; Linda Moran of Rawlins, WY; Cynthia Sparr of Austria; Dave Clark of LaPorte, CO and Ken Clark of various places; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 2:00 PM at the First Southern Baptist Church in Gregory. Burial will be in the Hillview Cemetery, Dallas. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church