Bettie Klaphake

June 1, 1938 - January 14, 2003

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 14 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich for Bettie Klaphake who died Saturday at her home after a long battle with cancer. Rev. Roger Klassen, OSB will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call Monday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church in New Munich. Parish prayers will be at 8 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home in Melrose.

Bettie was born on June 1, 1938 in Florence, Minnesota to William and Josephine (Sedlacek) Thaler. She was a 1956 graduate of Slayton High School. On April 30, 1960 she was united in marriage to Harold Klaphake at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Slayton. Since her marriage she had resided in New Munich. She was employed by Jennie-O Foods in Melrose for 18 years, before retiring in 2000. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, St. Anne’s Christian Mothers and St. Rita’s Mission Group.

Bettie enjoyed vacation traveling and trips to the casino. She loved to remodel the house, but eventually ran out of rooms. She loved spending time with her family, especially the grandchildren, and tending her garden, particularly her roses.

Survivors include her husband, Harold Klaphake of New Munich; four children, Tim (Teresa) Klaphake and Denise Klaphake, all of New Munich, Mark (Jody) Klaphake, of Freeport, Kurt (Kathy) Klaphake of Holdingford; ten grandchildren; sisters, Wilma (Francis) Gustaf of Slayton, Leona Johnson of Hadley, Maxine (Robert) Goin of Templeton, Calif.; brothers, Jerome (Alice) Thaler of Hadley, Alvin (Charlotte) Thaler of Backus.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mildred Ella; brothers, Bernard and Robert Thaler; brothers-in-law, Gunder Johnson and Rex Ella; sister-in-law, Cutz Thaler; father and mother-in-law, Math and Clara Klaphake.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

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