Delores Rubie Klatt

     Delores Rubie Klatt, the daughter of Melvin and Almeda (Jones) Smith, was born on August 5, 1934, in Lake Township, IA. She received her early education in Lake Center, then she went to a country school and Gillett Grove, before going to Webb in the 5th grade where she finished her education in 1952. Delores accepted the Lord as her Savior as a teenager. While in school she received letters in music and basketball. She was in girls 4-H for many years. She was always busy baby sitting or helping others in their homes or in the fields.

     Delores married Darrell Johnson in 1953. They lived south of Webb on a farm with their children: Cathy, Roger and Vicky. They later divorced. She later married Wayne Klatt and moved to Jackson, MN, where they bought and ran a café. The eventually sold it and moved to Montana, where she was a cook in a small café. After a couple of years, the couple moved to Jackson Hole, WY, and she worked as a cook at a big ranch. Delores cooked for the hired men. The couple moved back to Webb for the winter, then back to Minnesota where they bought a place and started a cow calf operation. Her husband got injured and was left to be a paraplegic. Delores took care of him and ran the business for a few years. After a bad winter they decided to sell the business. They bought a house and moved to Barrett, MN. Delores worked at the Barrett Care Center for 28 years as a cook.

      Delores was always working and having a big garden and canning. She also enjoyed sewing, jigsaw puzzles, crafts, reading. She loved having coffee with her friends and family.

     Wayne passed away in 2001. Delores retired in 2004 and moved to Spencer, to be close to family. She always missed her friends she left behind. Delores has lived at Spencer Manor since 2005.

     She passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025 at the Spencer Hospital at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Cathy; her son, Roger; her husband, Wayne; one sister, Lois; five brothers: Charles, Clyde, Alan, Arthur and Stanley; several nieces and nephews and other relatives.

    Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Vicky Sorensen and her husband, Dan; one sister, Ardis; her grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends, especially First Baptist Church family.