Elizabeth Klassen , Craig Klassen

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Klassen, 78, of 17 Marflow St., Ventura, died Thursday Aug. 8, 2013 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.

Craig Joseph Klassen, 50, of Phoenix, Ariz., son of Elizabeth Klassen, died two hours later on Aug. 8, 2013 in Phoenix.

A memorial mass for Elizabeth Klassen and her son, Craig Klassen, was held on Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Rev. John Gossman and Rev. Ken Glaser officiating.  Inurnment will be at a later time in Clear Lake Cemetery.

Betty was born Feb. 3, 1935 in Elma, Iowa, the daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth (Rosonke) Biwer.  She received her education, graduating in 1953, from Immaculate Conception Catholic High School in Elma.

She married Robert L. Klassen on May 1, 1954 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Elma.  To this union they had three sons, Richard, Kirk and Craig.  

They lived in Rudd, later Charles City and Des Moines.  In 1968 they bought the Shady Beach in Clear Lake and ran that business for four years.  They then moved to Sheldon, Iowa, where they bought a beer distributorship.  In 1977 they bought the Colony Inn in Ventura.  Betty was always active and very involved in all of their endeavors.  

She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Clear Lake.

Betty is survived by her husband of 58 years, Bob Klassen, Ventura; two sons, Richard “Rick” (Rachelle) Klassen, Desert Hot Spring, Calif., and Kirk (Sharon) Klassen, Prentice, Wis.; six grandchildren, Rebecka  Klassen and her fiancé, Matt Burrows, Jennifer (Aaron) Hockom, Jacob Klassen, Sean Klassen, Adam (Dorie) Klassen and Davis Klassen; three great-grandchildren, Carter Klassen, Ruth Burrows and Max Hockom; two brothers, Matt (Jackie) Biwer, Phoenix, and Al (Donna) Biwer, Elma; and two sisters, Geraldine Heying, Elma, and Mary Sullivan, Rochester, Minn.

Her son, Craig, passed away two hours after her death on Aug. 8, 2013 in Phoenix.  She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Phyllis Glaser; brother, Joe Biwer; and two brothers-in-law, Slim Heying and Burdell Sullivan.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.