Minnesota Pastor and Young Son Killed in South Dakota Traffic Accident

Stephen Clayton, a 31-year-old pastor at Becker Evangelical Free Church in Minnesota, and his 3-year-old son, David, died in a vehicle accident on October 12. The family was traveling home to Monticello after visiting relatives in Spearfish, South Dakota, when a tire detached from a trailer being towed in the opposite direction on Interstate 90. The tire crossed the median and struck the family’s minivan, causing fatal injuries to the pastor and his son.

Clayton’s wife, Katie, who was 28 weeks pregnant at the time, sustained facial and jaw fractures and underwent reconstructive surgery. Their 11-month-old son, John, sustained minor injuries, and the unborn child was reported unharmed. The driver of the pickup truck towing the trailer was uninjured. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety is currently investigating the incident.

Colleagues and church leaders have paid tribute to Clayton, describing him as a humble and thoughtful minister. Before joining the Becker congregation in 2024, Clayton served as a ministry assistant at The North Church in Mounds View and was a graduate of Bethlehem College and Seminary.