Clarice Marie Widen Carlgren Pruitt was born August 30, 1926 on a farm one mile north of Sibley School house, to Clarence and Cora (Hammer) Widen. She was the third of four children. She was the first girl born on her father’s side in four generations and was therefore named after her father. She attended Sibley school until high school where she attended Concordia High School. She graduated in 1944. She attended Emporia State Teacher’s College and taught at Sunny Side school in 1945. She taught at Highland School her second year of teaching in 1946. While teaching at Highland, she met Joe Carlgren and they were married January 22, 1946. They had two sons, Jerry and Don. Joe died of cancer in 1957 at the age of 35. Clarice then moved to Concordia where she worked at Bogart offices and Quartzite Co., as a secretary and book keeper.
March 22, 1959 she married Paul Pruitt of Barnard, Ks and they had two sons, Max and Mikel. They bought a farm five miles north of Miltonvale and farmed with livestock being their main objective. She loved her children and always tried to be an understanding mother, a protector and a positive influence for them.
In later years she had four daughter-in-law’s and one son-in-law. Then grandmother to 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Each of them was special to her. She was cookie grandma to all. There were many others that called her mom and grandma as she loved kids.
She taught Sunday School for 53 years, helped with Bible School and held many offices in Christian Women’s Fellowship at the First Christian Church in Miltonvale, Ks. She was a Deaconess, President of Sulphur Springs cemetery for many years and also mowed the cemetery. She was a past member of the Gideon Auxiliary. She wrote an article for the Miltonvale Record for many years.
She was clerk for her husband’s auctions and bookkeeper for N.F.O. hog buying stations at Concordia, Wamego, and others for 12 years. She was a helpmate to her husband never missing a chance to help with cattle, haying, and lots of mowing.
Clarice had three brothers who were always special to her, along with their wives, nieces and nephews. Summing up her life she was a caring, giving, and loving person.
Survivors include three sons, Don and wife Carla, Max and wife Deborah, Mikel and wife Michele. One daughter-in-law Karla and husband Wade. 11 grandchildren, Jason and Shane (Wendi) Carlgren, Alycia (Dane) Straight, Amanda (John) Tinner, Jessica (Ricardo) Moniz, Ashley (Jared) Smith, and Anne (Dakota) Beals, Crystal (Al) Paredes, Pamela Holechek, and Patricia Harris. 11 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son Jerry Carlgren, daughter-in-law Anita Pruitt, parents, three brothers, and her husbands.
Visitation will be Friday January 2, 2026 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Nutter Mortuary, Concordia, KS. The family will receive friends on Saturday January 3, 2026 from 9:30am – 10:30am at the Christian Church in Miltonvale, KS.
Funeral service will be held Saturday January 3, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Christian Church 314 W 3rd St. Miltonvale, KS with Pastors Tom Hollis and Al Paredes officiating.
A burial will be immediately after at Sulphur Springs Cemetery 703 N 230th Rd Miltonvale, KS.
A lunch will follow at the Christian Church Fellowship Hall.
Memorials may be given to the Christian Church in Miltonvale, KS, or Senior Citizens in Miltonvale, KS.
For online condolences, please visit nuttermortuary.com.
