HOLTON- Ruth "Elizabeth" Klahr, 89, Holton, passed away November 14, 2009 at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, KS. She was born July 10, 1920 in the Pleasant Grove Community northwest of Holton, the daughter of Charles Franklin and Esther M. Bohannon Hawks.
She attended Pleasant Grove Country Grade School graduating in May, 1934, and graduated from Netawaka High School in 1938. After high school graduation, she graduated from Emporia State Teachers College in 1940 and taught for two years in the intermediate grades at Netawaka Grade School.
She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, tourist club and LWML all of Holton. She was a former member of the Lower Banner Unit, also of Holton.
Elizabeth married Arnold Klahr on May 31, 1942 in Holton. She farmed with her husband for five years in the Whiting Community and in 1947 they bought their farm southwest of Holton in the Lower Banner community.
Arnold passed away on January 19, 1980. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, George Hawks and Homer Hawks.
Survivors include a son, Duane (Cheryl) Klahr, Holton, KS; a daughter, Carolyn (Bruce) Rose, Junction City, KS; a sister, Helen Hartschen, Topeka, KS; three grandchildren, Lisa Rose- Michalski, Brian Klahr and David Klahr and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Holton. Burial will be in the Holton Cemetery. She will lie in state through Tuesday evening at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials may be given to the church c/o Mercer Funeral Home P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.