Thelma Clark, 87, was recently honored by the Vale (Oregon) Adventist Church as she retired from 54 continuous years as church clerk. She was presented with a special plaque made for the occasion.

Thelma came to the Vale area with her parents at about age 20 in 1938. They lived between Vale and Ontario at that time. In 1941, she married Robert Clark, and the couple raised cows and sold milk. In 1947, they moved to a farm west of Vale where they established the Clark Dairy, which they operated until after Robert's death. Thelma still resides in her home, which she shares with her daughter Elsie and son Roger. Another daughter, Lillian Thompson, lives just down the road.

Thelma is a charter member of the Vale Church, organized in 1938, which she still attends faithfully.