Betty J. Klott, 88, of Hermann, MO, passed away Friday, January 29, 2021, at her home.
Betty was born in Overland, Missouri on July 3, 1932, the daughter of the late Julius & Edna (O'Brien) Dutton. She grew up in Labadie, Missouri, and graduated from Washington High School. Betty was united in marriage to the love of her life, James "Jim" Klott, on October 8, 1949, in Labadie, Missouri. Jim preceded her in death on May 10, 2012.
Betty and Jim were the parents of two daughters, Mary and Linda, and the grandparents of two grandsons, their pride and joy, Aaron and Cody. A devout Christian, Betty translated her love of music into leading the Jr. Choir at church, her love of flowers into making the altar arrangements, and her love of her church family into doing whatever else was needed – which usually involved cooking and baking.
Betty worked as a receptionist for Zero Manufacturing in Washington, Missouri, and later for Missouri Botanical Garden at the Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri. After retirement, she devoted herself to family, organizing traveling and fishing trips, apple butter making, and continuing to donate her time to the church.
Both Betty and Jim loved nature, living in the woods in the twilight years of their lives, watching the garden plants and flowers grow, and enjoying the wildlife on their property, especially the deer and blue birds. Later on Betty had great-grandchildren to enjoy.
Betty is survived by a daughter, Linda Klott-Brown and husband Roger, of Villa Ridge, Missouri; a sister, Julia Jones, of Labadie, Missouri; two grandsons, Aaron Brown (Katie), of Webster Groves, Missouri, and Cody Brown (Cherah), of Oologah, Oklahoma; and by her great- grandchildren – Gavin, Lilly, Abbi, Lexi, Jackson, Quinton, and Audrey.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter, Dr. Mary Jane "Maria" Klott, two brothers, James & Larry Dutton, and a sister, Lillian Schultz.
Graveside services will be private at Newport Presbyterian Cemetery, Washington, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will be planned in the future.
Memorials may be given to Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit, or StoneBridge Senior Living in Hermann, C/O Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home.