Delano Gene Klakken

Delano Gene Klakken went to his eternal, heavenly home on October 6th, 2016 at age 81. He is survived by his wife Joyce and children Marcus and Shirley Klakken (Seattle), Karl and Karen Landrus (Spokane), Scott Klakken (Seattle) and Jon Klakken (Spokane), and his brother and sister-in-law Dean and Sharon Klakken of Hamilton, MT. He left behind six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Del was born on June 14th, 1935 in Plentywood, MT to Albert and Joy Klakken. He was the fourth child of six, and the second born son. The family moved to Noxon, Montana when he was two years old where his dad logged and was an operator for steam engines in the sawmill. His favorite childhood memories were summers which meant huckleberry picking, fishing, playing with friends and, No School (his words). He had fond memories of family holidays and get togethers with friends in the family home. His high school years were filled with playing baseball, basketball and football as well as working construction. In May of 1953 at age 17, he graduated from Noxon High School and moved to Spokane where he worked construction until deciding to go to telegrapher's school. After graduating in 1954, he went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Ritzville, WA and then moved in 1956 to the relay office in Spokane. It was at this time he met Joyce Marie Zeller at work in the telegrapher's office as they were both telegraphers. Then on October 27th, 1956, they married and started a family soon after. He continued working for the railroad, and after the railroad merger of 1970, he worked for the now Burlington Northern Sante Fe as a wire chief. He retired from the railroad in 1996 after 42 years of service. Del's family and friends knew him to be a faithful man, a man of his word, and a whole lot of fun. He has been a member of the King's Community Church for over 45 years, a Gideon for over 30 years, volunteered doing numerous public telegraph exhibitions as one of the original founding members of the Spokane Chapter of the Morse Code Telegraph Club Inc. Del loved going to the Philippines to do missionary work and made many special friends he kept in touch with afterwards. His favorite hobby was woodworking and helped many different people with their projects. He also enjoyed many years of square dancing lessons, dances and events with his square dancing friends. He loved his Lord Jesus Christ, family and friends. He knew he would soon be in heaven and called it his "Victory Day". While we are going to greatly miss him, we are joyful in knowing where he is and will look forward to seeing him again one day. Services for Del will be at RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME, 4305 N. DIVISION, SPOKANE, WA on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 10:30a.m. with a graveside service to follow at Fairmount Memorial Park at 12:30p.m. Any memorial gifts, please give to The Gideons International.