Hope Klitzke, 92, formerly of Flandreau, passed away Thursday, December 25, at the Crestview Care Center in Chadron, NE.
Hope was born January 8, 1916 near Flandreau, SD to Ada J (Babcock) and William Bennett. She received her education from country schools and Egan High School. She graduated with a 2 year teaching degree from Madison Teachers College, and taught in country schools in Minnesota and in Okaton, SD. Hope married Kermit Klitzke on June 22, 1942 at Flandreau and they lived in Los Angeles, California until coming home to farm Kermit's family farm in 1952. When her children were high school age, she went back to college and got her 4 year teaching degree. She then taught at the Keith School, Trent Grade School and Flandreau Grade School. She was a very talented musician and a very loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend. She is greatly missed.

Grateful for having shared their lives with her and their father, Kermit, are their sons, Kermit(Bertie), Sioux Falls, Kenneth, Jackson, Michigan, and daughter, Karel (Dave) Dunbar, Oelrichs, SD, seven grandchildren; Kelly, Dan, Kamille, Kenny, Brett, Scott and Matt, thirteen great-grandchildren; Angela, Ramona, Hunter, Gab, Austin, Aeryn, Dana, Dan, Dawn and Dawson, Kassidy, Rylan, and Marcus; one brother, Jim (Darlene)Bennett, Hemet, California and many special nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kermit (September 9, 1970), an infant son, her beloved parents, Ada and William, brothers, Charles, Fred, Boyd, Norris, Mark; sisters, Olive, Lillian, Grace and Ada Mae.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Flandreau with burial in Union Cemetery, Flandreau. Visitation begins at 3:00 PM Monday at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau.