Elizabeth Klaahsen

George, IA Elizabeth Klaahsen, age 98 of George, IA died Saturday, October 19, 2013 at the Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA. Memorial service will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013 at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George, IA, with Rev. Dale Lint officiating. Burial will take place prior to the service at Evergreen Lawn Cemetery in George, IA. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of George. Elizabeth Liz (Bartels) Klaahsen was born on a farm outside of George on February 25, 1915 to Jelte Jake and Hattie (Thiele) Bartels, the third of 11 children. Her family moved to Little Rock, IA when she was a child, and she attended the Little Rock School through the 8th grade. In 1928, the family moved back to George. Starting at age 13, Elizabeth worked for various households in and around George, caring for the sick, the aged and new mothers. She was helping Rev. and Mrs. Niebruegge, pastor of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, take care of infant twin boys when she married Bert Klaahsen. They were united in marriage by Rev. Niebruegge at the Presbyterian manse on October 23, 1936, and attended by Jake and Sena Van Briesen. She was baptized as an adult on October 9, 1938, and was a member of Ebenezer Presbyterian for the rest of her life. There she taught Sunday school and also was in charge of the Cradle Roll for several years. Bert and Elizabeth resided in Little Rock early in their marriage, where Bert managed the feed store. While living in Little Rock, their only daughter Roberta was born. They moved back to George in 1944 where Elizabeth was a homemaker, she did ironing and cleaning for other people and also cleaned the Presbyterian Church for a period of time. She started working for Visser Hardware around 1956, and worked there full time until the store closed in 2002. Elizabeth enjoyed embroidery work, gardening, flowers and visiting with her many friends. She was content to live in her beloved George, IA, and never had a desire to move to a different place. Elizabeth completed her earthbound journey on October 19th, 2013 at the age of 98 years, 7 months and 24 days. She leaves behind one daughter, Roberta (Leonard) Scholten of Sioux Falls, SD; two wonderful grandchildren, Linda (Tim) Lange of Sioux Falls, and Rodney (Starla) Scholten of Hills, MN; four great-grandchildren, Morgan Lange of Sioux Falls, Adam Lange of Sioux Falls, Tom (Megan) Scholten of Beaver Creek, MN, Andrew Scholten of Mankato, MN; and one great great-granddaughter, Ella Rae Hughes of St. Paul, MN; also one remaining sister, Mae (Don) Jacoy of Vancouver, WA; one sister-in-law, Yoshi Bartels of Spokane, WA; one brother-in-law, Warren Heyer of Sioux Falls, SD; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by Bert, her husband of 40 years; her parents; six brothers, Hank, Andy, Harry, Harm, Jakie and Elmer; three sisters, Sena Van Briesen, Helena Karsten, and Jennie Heyer; three nephews, Kenneth Van Briesen, Eugene Heyer and Barry Bartels; and two nieces, Shirley Bartels and Harriet Jean Bartels.