Dorothy Elizabeth Claeys

Dorothy Elizabeth Claeys, age 94 of Belle Plaine, died on Wednesday, February 08, 2012 at the Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, Fr. Michael Kaluza will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to mass at church. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Belle Plaine. Dorothy was born in Winnebago, MN on November 1, 1917 to Harold and Emma (Ryder) Pool. She grew up in Winnebago and attended and graduated from country schools. Dorothy married Richard Claeys on August 27, 1935 at St. Mary's in Winnebago. After marriage, they farmed in the Winnebago area before moving to rural Belle Plaine in 1950. Dorothy worked part time at the Gedney pickle factory in Chaska. She enjoyed playing the piano, embroidery work and she took pride in having a beautiful yard, growing flowers and gardening. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Richard in 2002; son Harold Claeys; daughters-in-law Nancy Claeys and Norma Claeys; sisters Marjorie and Phyllis and a brother Mahlon. She is survived by her sons, Julian of Carver, Bernard (Lynette) of Carver; daughters, Barbara Drayna of St. Paul and Ramona Burr of Renton, WA; 20 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; brother Jim (Mary) Pool of Saratoga, CA; sister-in-law Gladys Claeys of Truman; brother-in-law Bailey Blair of Winnebago and many nieces and nephews.