John "Bud" Klay

JOHN 'BUD' WESLEY KLAY was born April 8, 1923 to John and Gertrude (Bunning) Klay on the family farm in Sioux County near Rock Valley, Iowa. He was baptized into the Christian faith at the Methodist Church in Rock Valley, where he was later confirmed. He grew up near Rock Valley and attended Rock Valley High School. John then began his farming career working with Dick Moser near Lester, Iowa for a few years. On February 28, 1947 John was united in marriage to Harriet Caswell at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Shortly after marriage, John worked a year with his father-in-law west of Rock Rapids, Iowa. The couple then made their home on a farm east of Garretson, South Dakota. John and Harriet next moved to a farm southeast of Beaver Creek, Minnesota in 1954. Four years later they moved to a farm just west of Magnolia, Minnesota. John and Harriet eventually purchased this farm. While raising their four children, they successfully worked the land and proudly raised cattle. Harriet lost her courageous battle with a terminal illness in 1999. John continued farming until his retirement in 2001 at the age of 78. He continued helping on the farm for a few more years, eventually moving to an apartment in Luverne, Minnesota in 2004. John moved to Poplar Creek in 2007. In January of 2010 he became a resident at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. On Thursday, May 8, 2014 John died peacefully at the age of 91 years and one month.

John was an active member of his faith community; first with the Christian Reformed Church and later the American Reformed Church, both in Luverne. He served as a deacon and an elder. John and Harriet were members of a bible study group for more than 30 years and he served on several church committees over the years. John’s conscientious concern for the land and its welfare led him to serve on many agriculturally related boards over the years. He was a founding member of Rock County Rural Water Board, served as President of the Magnolia/Kanaranzi Elevator Board, a member of the Rock Co. Coop, Rock Co. Farm Bureau, the Soil and Water Conservation Board, Rock Co. Cattleman’s Association, and the Rock Co. Corn and Soybean Association. In addition to his passion for the land John loved horses, especially quarter horses. He also served as the Livestock Superintendent for the Rock County 4-H program. John was content with whom he was and lived his life with a sense of integrity and professionalism to all the church and civic organizations in which he was associated. John’s legacy of a keen sense of humor and quick wit will be lovingly carried on by his children and grandchildren.

Those happy to have shared in John’s life are his four children, Kenneth (Cora) Klay of Luverne, Duane Klay of Brandon, South Dakota, Marilyn Uithoven and Greg Uithoven of Magnolia, and Debra (Rande) Short of Colorado Springs, Colorado; 14 grandchildren; 6 step grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 8 step great-grandchildren; a brother, Russell (Georgia) Klay of Camdenton, Missouri; four sisters-in-law, Ruth Caswell of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Lucille Schouwenberg of Hills, Minnesota, Evelyn (Otto Jr.) Van Malsen of Yorba Linda, California, and Rubye Klay of Rapid City, South Dakota. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Harriet; daughter-in-law, Linda Klay; parents, John and Gertrude; sisters, Eldora Synhorst, Annabelle White; infant sister; two brothers, Reynold and Stanley Klay; and three brothers-in-law, Charlie White, George Caswell, and Henry Schouwenberg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne or the SIM (Serving In Mission) Fund: 14830 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273.