Clarence "Clay" Junior Wilson of Shenandoah, Iowa (formerly of Rapid City) died in a tragic accident on October 11, 2019 as he traveled on Interstate 90 to the Black Hills for a family celebration. He will be greatly missed.

Born in Newton, Iowa on January 8, 1949 to Clarence "Ike" and Zola (Ross) Wilson, "Junior" grew up in Rapid City and attended Rapid City High School where he was on the wrestling team and played football for the Cobblers.  He was a talented musician and truly a nice guy. He joined the Army in 1968 and earned the rank of sergeant during two tours in Vietnam.  After being honorably discharged, Clay returned to Rapid City in 1971.

His life was full of a variety of experiences.  He worked as a hog farmer and then an iron worker while living in Iowa.  He moved to Colorado and worked as a construction worker and then in the maintenance department for Safeway Corporation.  Clay was an avid sports enthusiast of the Denver Broncos as well as professional and college football and baseball. He was a boisterous arm chair quarterback and referee.  Like his dad and his brothers, he possessed a gift of crafting and fixing anything mechanical, electrical, wood or concrete.  He excelled as a journeyman welder.  Clay also enjoyed crossword and vocabulary puzzles and his knowledge of flowers and gardening was spot on.

During his retirement, Clay was renovating a large home in an older neighborhood in Shenandoah, Iowa – just to keep busy.  And he also enjoyed traveling with his erstwhile best friend Rosemary to many places including Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. He spent time traveling to meet up with family and friends around the US, too.  He reveled in referring to himself as a stubborn Scot-Irishman.  Those of us who knew and loved him can attest to this.

Clay is survived by his siblings Walt (Judy) Wilson of Piedmont; Wayne (LaVerne) Wilson of Aberdeen; Linda (Ron) Sahli of Aberdeen; Janice Tully; Peggy (Gary) Acock of Pahrump, NV; and DeAnne of Colorado.  Numerous nieces and nephews…great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews – living around the country, including great nephew Kaleb Garner of Shenandoah, IA …and Kaleb's siblings Hanna, Jessie and Indigo. He also leaves behind two very good friends - Rick Houghman and Rosemary Whelan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ike and Zola, and a great great niece, Alivya Gould.

Committal Services will be October 28, 2019 at 11am at the Black Hills National Cemetery with full military honors r endered by the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota Army National Guard.

His family encourages everyone to please wear their seatbelts.