Milo Branson, son of Joseph Lane and Ethel Iowa (Shannon) Clark, was born August 2, 1903, near Irwin in Jefferson Township, Shelby County, Iowa. He attended one room country school and graduated from Irwin High School in May of 1922. Milo continued his education first at Iowa State College in Ames and second at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska, where he was awarded a teaching certificate in 1924. While at Peru State, Milo met his future wife Helen. He then taught school for one year at Butterfield, Minnesota.

Following their father's unexpected death in the spring of 1925, Milo and his brother Homer farmed the family farm for two years. In 1928, Milo began to farm on his own about two miles west of Irwin.

On July 1, 1928, Milo was united in marriage to the love of his life Helen Elizabeth Lichty at Peru, Nebraska. Three children were born to this union. Milo and Helen made their home on Milo's farm until 1934 when they moved to a farm north of Manilla. In 1942 they purchased a farm west of Botna in Jefferson Township and moved there in 1943.

Second only to his family was Milo's love of farming. As early as 1941, he began the practice of soil and water conservation by contour farming and establishing terraces and dams on the land. On the farm near Botna, the building of terraces began with the use of a tractor and a two-bottom plow. He loved trees and planted a great windbreak around his farm and buildings, in addition to fruit and nut trees, grape vines, berry bushes, as well as other ornamental trees and bushes. He planted several tomatoes and flowers around his apartment complex through his 98th year of life.

In 1941 he established a herd of purebred Angus cattle. From this herd his children showed cattle in 4-H in the 1940s and won several ribbons.

Milo had a lifelong love of sports and was especially fond of football. Milo and Helen attended local high school games even when no family members were participating. He felt especially privileged to live and watch two great-grandsons play football on the same team.

Milo was baptized and joined the Presbyterian Church in Manilla. Milo was an active member, serving as a trustee and elder. When he and Helen moved to Manning in January of 1989, they transferred to the First Presbyterian Church in Manning. Helen died December 20, 1992.

Due to declining health in February of 2003, Milo became a resident of the Manilla Manor Nursing Home in Manilla, Iowa, where he died Friday, November 7, 2003. He was 100 years, 3 months, and 5 days of age.

Besides his wife and parents, Milo was preceded in death by a son and daughter in infancy; three sisters: Edna Havick, Alice Lister and Ermyl Whitney and a brother Homer Clark.

He is survived by his children: Richard M. (Dick) Clark and wife Lavonne of Manilla; Sue and husband Jon Duvall of Fort Dodge; Lynn Clark and wife Laveda of Calhoun, Louisiana; six grandsons; two granddaughters; six great-grandsons; six great-granddaughters; one great-great-granddaughter; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In his final gift to us, Milo donated his body for medical science to the University of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa.