Kline, Louise M.

WEST LIBERTY - Louise M. Kline, 99, died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at the Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Henderson-Barker Funeral Home, West Liberty. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty.

Louise was born Nov. 6, 1910, near West Liberty, on the family farm, the daughter of Fred and Marzella Walker Ridenour. She was a 1928 graduate of West Liberty High School, where she was valedictorian. She later obtained her teaching degree from UNI and taught school at the Union Valley Country School. On April 22, 1933, she was united in marriage to Elmer Kline; together they celebrated 69 years of marriage before his death. After her marriage she was required to retire from teaching; at that time teachers were not allowed to be married. She then became a farm wife and on Feb. 1, 1935, their son, Harold, was born.

She was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church and UMW, 50-year member of Order of Eastern Star, Fortnightly Women's Club, Floriculture Society, Hartipee Social Cub and the Cedar County Historical Review, having written many articles in their yearly books.

Her greatest joys were her family, and traveling. She had been to every state in the United States and all the lower providences of Canada.

She is survived by one son, Harold of West Liberty; grandson, Ron (Carol) Kline of West Liberty; two great-grandchildren, Derek and Garrett; and sisters-in-law, Mary Jean Fiderlein of West Branch and Marie Kline of Kansas City, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer; daughter-in-law, Barbara Kline; grandson, James; sisters-in-law, Alberta and Anna Kline, Wilma Kline and Hazel Freyermuth; and brothers-in-law, Wayne, Pete and Everett Kline, Louis Fiderlein and Dale Freyermuth.

Memorials may be made to the West Liberty United Methodist Church or Hospice Compassus.

Online condolences may be made to the family at