Genevieve Patricia Klatt

Gen was born March 3, 1921, in Fargo, North Dakota, the first of four children of Albert E. and Pearl McDermott Powers. Gen grew up in La Moure, N.D., graduating from high school in 1939. She graduated from St. Benedict’s College in St. Joseph, MN, in 1943 and taught high school English in Le Centre, MN, before leaving for Hawaii in August, 1945. She was the librarian during the 45-46 school year in Honaka’a on the Big Island of Hawaii, and her letters from that year are full of activities, from directing school plays and leading a Girl Scout troup to singing in and directing the church choir to parties and dances and swimming in the ocean. She kept a love of bright colors, exotic flowers and Hawaiian songs throughout her life. Gen thrilled to the adventures of Hawaii, including a hike almost to the top of Moana Kea and a ride on a stallion. She worked for the Navy in Honolulu for a year before returning to Ritzville, WA, where her family had moved. Gen had been considering joining the convent even before going to Hawaii, but she met Robert Klatt that summer and married him on November 7, 1947. They had seven children before moving to Sandpoint in 1956 where their three youngest children were born. Bob and Gen raised their children along the shores of Garfield Bay while sharing a home and plentiful meals with family and friends for nearly 40 years. She was a homemaker who welcomed the children of the neighborhood, loved to have her children sing along when she played the piano and entertained many with her irrepressible sense of humor. Gen was an active member of St. Joseph’s parish, where she directed the choir, played the organ and initiated the parish library. She was also active in the Sagle School PTA and helped run the library and formed the singing group, The Lemon Sisters with several other mothers. She loved to play the piano and sing and passed on her love of music to her children. She was an avid reader, a formidable Scrabble and bridge opponent, and loved old movies, but her chief delight in life was her family. Gen had made her home at the Bridge for the past 13 years, where she died peacefully, attended by some of her children. She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Brian David, in 1964, her parents in 1971 and 1988, and her husband in 1995. Gen is survived by her children, Mary (Bob) Hoekzema, Teresa (Hugh) Leedy, Bob (Naticia Litven), Steve (Susie Lewis), Eileen (Pat Bistline), Phillip (Ana Mogro), Colleen (Larry Eckman), Paul (Joyce Kratz) and Susan (Randy) Rapp; her grandchildren, Alison and Rob Leedy, Liam Klatt, Rachel Calkins, Alisha Klatt, Erika and Illana Mitchell, Scott Eckman, Brian Klatt, and David and Betsy Rapp, and six great-grandchildren; her sisters, Catherine Johnson, Colleen Thompson and Jeanne Muir, and her brother, Charles Powers, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The vigil/rosary service will be held at 7:00 pm, Friday, November 4th in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 5th in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Father Dennis C. Day will be officiating with interment in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph’s Parish Building Fund, 601 S. Lincoln Ave., Sandpoint, ID.