Fay Florey, 92 of Clark, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026, at Avantara Clark with family by his side. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 3:00 p.m. Visitation will precede the funeral from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service, at the church. Memorials may be designated to Rose Hill Cemetery or St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fay’s memory.
Fay was born at home on their farm in Stutzman County, N.D., on October 5, 1934, to parents Guy and Marie (Hopland) Florey. He was the third of four children. Upon losing the farm in the dirty 30s, the family moved three miles north of Maynard, Minn., where they operated a gas and service station on Hwy 7 and did small repairs. Two years later, they moved to a farm northwest of Henry owned by Fay’s grandmother (Florey). Fay lived and started school there until the middle of the seventh grade. From there, they purchased a farm located nine miles north and one mile east of Clark and Fay started school at Thorp Consolidated.
In 1950 as a sophomore, Fay’s mother passed away from cancer after a seven-month stay at Memorial Hospital. Fay’s dad sold the farm to his uncle and aunt, Henry and Cora Eckoff. Fay graduated from high school in 1952 and was valedictorian of his senior class. He worked for Eckhoff’s until 1955 and drove a school bus for four years at Thorp. He then went to work on the John and Rose Christensen farm and married their daughter, Ila Mae in August 1956. She was the love of his life.
Fay and Ila Mae farmed northwest of Clark most of their lives. While raising their five children, Michael, Robin, Dawn, David and Paul, Fay worked side by side with his wife and children on the farm. He ran the farm yet found time to help Ila Mae tend to the weeds in her beautiful flower gardens. He loved life as a farmer, and he received awards from Clark Junior Chamber of Commerce and soil conservation from Clark District. He was awarded Outstanding Young Farmer. He taught junior-senior Sunday school class at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was a strong provider for his family and stayed true to his belief that no matter how busy, it was important he attend church with the family each Sunday morning.
Fay and Ila Mae enjoyed square dancing, mainly going to dances in Lily, Webster and Clark. They attended many sports events over the years, watching and enjoying their kids and grandkids. Fay and Ila Mae did several bus trips together. They purchased a home in Mesa, Ariz. (at the same park as Fay’s brother and Ila Mae’s sister) and enjoyed several winters there. They invited their children and grandchildren to fly down and see them. They knew how to pamper their guests!
Preceding Fay in death were his wife Ila Mae, her parents John and Rose Christensen, his parents Guy and Marie Florey, his sister-in-law Maxine Florey, his older brother Floyd, sister Fern and younger brother Francis, a son-in-law David Schweitzer and a daughter-in-law Linda Florey. Grateful for having shared his life was his wife of 68 years, Ila Mae Florey of Clark and his children: Michael (Melody) Florey of Watertown, Robin Schweitzer of Clark, David (Dawn) Florey of Sioux Falls and Paul (Kris) Florey of Clark; grandchildren: Sara Florey, John (Londa) Florey, Josh (Kaitlyn) Florey, Shawn Schweitzer, Melissa (Josiah) Christoffer, Dan (Emily) Stee, Brianna (Alek) Kooima, Brandon (Rena) Florey, Gannon (Lindsey) Florey, Rhett Florey, Reagan (Jess) Karber, and Grayson (Alicia) Florey and 17 great-grandchildren.
