Dotty was born at the family farm on the Smoky Hill River, in rural Marquette, Kansas on January 30, 1920, the youngest child of James Ferguson Darrah and Nell Chadwick Darrah. Dotty had an idyllic childhood on the farm and especially enjoyed riding her horse and driving a grain truck during wheat harvest. Dotty was baptized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church, Marquette. She attended Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, and earned her Registered Nurse diploma at Trinity Lutheran Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri.
In 1944, Dotty married Eldon George "Bub" Klein, who grew up on a nearby cattle and wheat operation. Bub was career soldier and their life as an Army family was an adventure. They were blessed with five children and lived at Fort Reilly, Kansas, Fort Lewis, Washington, Vicenza, Italy, Frankfurt, Germany, and finally Fort Hood, Texas. Dotty provided child care to many Killeen families for over thirty years. She enjoyed gardening reading, knitting blankets, retiree's luncheons at church, visiting with her many friends, and Klein Family reunions. Dotty was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Lindsborg, Kansas, and, since 1960, a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Killeen.
Dotty was preceded in death by her son James Garth Klein, her husband, her parents, her brothers, Reverend John Darrah, James Darrah, Chadwick Darrah, and her sister, Margaret Darrah Keyte.
Dotty is survived by her daughters Mary K. Odom (John) of Harker Heights, Patricia E. Wolters (Lane) of Kerrville; her sons John W. Klein (Elizabeth Eve)of Buchanan Dam, and Robert G. Klein (Audrey) of Lindale; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Washington.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 3801 Cunningham Road, Killeen, TX 76542. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund, Immanuel Lutheran Church, or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Killeen. You may share words of comfort at www.crawfordbowers.org,
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