Obituary of Dorothy Klaus

Born in Priest River, Idaho, to Audrey May and Orrel Sylvester Kronkright on May 28, 1925. She died January 27, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon, with her family by her side. She lived with her father and grandparents for the first few years of her life in Priest River. Her father remarried and the family moved to Clarkston, Washington. She attended schools in Clarkston and Lewiston, Idaho. She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1943. While living in Clarkston; her two sisters, Joyce and Lavelle, five and fifteen years respectively, younger than Dorothy were born. She was recruited right out of high school to work as a stenographer at the then top secret Hanford Atomic Works (where the first atomic bombs were built), in central Washington. While working at Hanford she met and married Emmett Turner. This union brought their daughter, Dianna Marie, into the world in 1946 at Grand Coulee Dam, Washington. They divorced in 1949. While working as a bookkeeper at McMonigle Chevrolet in Lewiston, Idaho, she met and married Robert Kinzer. They were only married two years when Robert was fatally shot while hunting in 1951. She met and married Peter Fred Klaus in Lewiston in 1955. Her second daughter, Denise Rene, was born in 1956. Dorothy and Fred's marriage ended in divorce. In 1965, Dorothy and Denise moved to Coos Bay, Oregon after Dianna left home for college. Dorothy worked as an office manager for Murphy Motors until 1967 when she took the office manager position at Lew Williams Chevrolet in Eugene, Oregon. That dealership was sold to Joe Romania. She retired from Romania Chevrolet in 1988 after working 37 years in the automotive industry. Dorothy was active in the Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile. She was on the Altar Guild at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and made many friends. She enjoyed playing golf, crocheting, knitting, travelling to many places, playing pinochle and canasta. After she retired, she enjoyed having coffee with the ladies every morning at Valley River Mall. She is survived by her sister, Lavelle Sims (Dallas, OR); daughter, Dianna (Richard) Moser of Georgia; daughter, Denise (Michael) Palo, of Eugene. Grandchildren: Michael (Yon) Detlefsen, Erika (Bryan) Couey and Whitney (Adam) Grant, all of Georgia; and Kimberly (Jon) Woo of Philomath. Great-grandchildren: Alexander Detlefsen, Kade Couey, Ethan Couey, Garrett Couey and Brock Grant, all of Georgia; and Makiah Woo, of Oregon. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Joyce. The family would like to thank Lone Oak Assisted Living and Farmington Square for the excellent care and love they gave our Mother the past few months. A service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Friday, February 3, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. Arrangements are in care of Lane Memorial Gardens, Eugene. She will be laid to rest in Lewiston, Idaho at Normal Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Eugene, OR in memory of Dorothy Klaus.