Clytha Welch

SIOUX CITY -- Clytha "Jean" Welch, 74, of Sioux City passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2010, at her home.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Avenue. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.

Jean was born May 27, 1936, in Spink, S.D., to Avery and Alice (Ross) Burns. She lettered in basketball in high school before graduating from Villisca Public Schools in Iowa. She continued her education by attending Business College in Sioux City.

Jean married Jimmie A. Welch on Aug. 29, 1959, in Beresford, S.D. To this union four children were born. She drove a school bus for Sioux City Public Schools between the years of 1977 to 2001. Jean also worked as a checker for Hy-Vee Food Store in Sioux City for more than 10 years.

She was a member of the American Business Woman's Association for many years. Jean enjoyed puzzles, bowling, sewing, and collecting spoons and salt and pepper sets. She was an outstanding scrapbooker, and took great pride in being a blood donor at the Siouxland Blood Bank.

Jean is survived by her children, Nancy Welch of Plattsmouth, Neb., Jeffery Welch and his wife, Angie, David Welch, and Steven Welch, all of Sioux City; brothers, Fred Burns and his wife, Mary Ellen of Cromwell, Iowa, and Donnie Burns and his wife, Phyllis of Elk Point, S.D.; grandchildren, Larry Leigh Jr., Valerie Rose, Kelsey Welch, Karter Welch, Clinton Welch and soon to be newborn Adison Welch; companion, Don Ayers of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jimmie in 2003; brother, George Burns; and sister, Edna Arntzen.