Born in 1917 – Died December 7, 2022
Otillie “Tillie” Holzworth Klein, formerly of Firesteel, died on the morning of December 7, 2022, in Billings, MT. Tillie was 105 years old and liked to say “I’m 105 and glad to be alive.”
Tillie was born in 1917 in Eureka to Henry and Christina Holzworth, the seventh of eleven children. On Tillie’s first birthday, her family moved to a farm near Firesteel. Tillie’s first language was German, and she did not learn English until she started school. Tillie recalls several experiences from life on the farm, including going to school by horse and wagon, running the tractor to gather hay, and helping prepare large meals during harvest time. Tillie completed most of her school in Firesteel and graduated from high school in Selby.
Tillie married Ted Klein in 1938. They made their home in Firesteel and had two children, Ken and Sandy. In 1956, Tillie became the postmaster in Firesteel and ran the post office out of an annex in her home, complete with a wall of mailboxes. That wall of mailboxes and her service window are in the Timber Lake Museum in Timber Lake. In 1976, Tillie became postmaster in McIntosh and retired from the Postal Service in 1984.
Several years after retirement Tillie moved to Mesa, AZ where she lived in a senior community for 14 years enjoying dancing, socializing, and water aerobics. She then moved to Penngrove, CA and spent 5 years with her daughter, Sandy, and her family. During this time, she created many fond memories of mother/daughter/ granddaughter outings with Sandy and Becky Frank and time spent with five of her great-grandchildren. In 2014, Tillie moved to The Vista Assisted Living in Billings to be closer to her son, Ken, and daughter-inlaw, Barbara. While in Billings she enjoyed visits from her nieces and nephews.
The staff at The Vista Assisted Living in Billings provided invaluable care for Tillie, especially these last few years.
Tillie was an intelligent, confident, and self-assured woman. She was very independent throughout her life and had a successful career that she enjoyed. Her hobbies were varied. She was an excellent seamstress, a good cook and a voracious reader; she loved to dance and laugh, and she was quite the Scrabble player. She also cut hair for several of the local kids in Firesteel and continued to cut her own hair to the very end.
Tillie had the sad distinction of outliving both her children, Ken Klein and Sandy Frank. She was also predeceased by her parents and all her siblings. Survivors include her son-in-law, LaMoyne Frank; daughter- in-law, Barbara Klein; five grandchildren: Becky Frank, Mike Frank (wife Donnie), Ted Frank, Kris Klein (husband Lance), and Perry Klein (partner Alisha); six great-grandchildren: Caitlin, Chasina, Austin, Asher, Nicholas and Elisabeth; and several nieces and nephews.
An inurnment will occur at a later date at Hillview Cemetery in Isabel.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to the Timber Lake & Area Historical Society, PO Box 181, Timber Lake, SD 57656-0181, or a charity of your choice.
(Barbara Klein’s address is 1215 Parkview Dr., Billings, MT 59102.)