Agnes A. Clem, 93, a lifetime resident of Tekoa and descendent of area pioneers, passed away on Sunday February 15, 2015 at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday February 20, 2015 the Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa.

Agnes was born on August 23, 1921 in Tekoa, the second of five children (and oldest daughter) to John & Anna (Wallner) Kessinger. She grew up on the family farm on Cove Road and attended school at Tekoa, graduating from Tekoa High School in 1939. Agnes met Harold E. Clem who was literally the "boy next door" when she worked for Harold's mother during the harvest season. Their farm, of course, was located next to the one owned by Agnes' parents. They married in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho on October 5, 1939. The couple made their home in the Cove Road area and Agnes lived there until quite recently when her health forced her to move to Colfax for care.

Agnes and Harold were the true image of a farm couple. Together they raised chickens and pigs, milked the cows twice a day, harvested their land and raised a garden. They were both hard and dedicated workers. Agnes worked hard to gain a "Century Farm" designation for their operation, since the farm had been in her family and continuously used for that purpose for over 100 years.
She was a lifetime member of the Tekoa Grange and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed gardening – both for food and for fun – and continued to keep a garden well into her 80s. She also did a lot of canning and thoroughly enjoyed crocheting and quilting.

Agnes is survived by her daughter, Linda (Bob) McAdam of Greenville, North Carolina; son Ronald Clem of Spokane Valley; granddaughter Allisha (David) Cody and great-granddaughter Nina Foster of Conifer, Colorado as well as many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harold in 2001; daughter Patricia in 1962; granddaughter Michelle McAdam in 1992 as well as her parents and siblings.

Memorial contributions in Agnes' honor are suggested to the Tekoa Ambulance Fund, the Whitman Hospital Foundation or the Goldenrod Cemetery Association. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.