Helen Ruth Klay
Helen Ruth Klay, 94, passed away Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, at Dove Healthcare in Bloomer.
Helen was born May 18, 1927, and was the sixth of nine children born to Katerina (Muhelky) and Anton Kvapil, in Colburn.
She attended Colburn School through eighth grade, and worked on the family farm and as a caregiver.
Helen and her siblings attended the Bohemian Language School, and were fluent in Bohemian. She and her siblings would speak in Bohemian on purpose, so their children wouldn’t understand.
She moved to Cadott, in 1947, and worked as a waitress for Fred Cawell. It is here, she met the new man in town, who worked at Tom Tobola Ford, John Klay, when he would come in for meals.
Marrying June 3, 1948, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cadott, they moved to a home on Front Street and in October of 1949, welcomed their son, Chris, and daughter, Donna, in 1952.
John and Helen opened Klay’s Shell Service in 1957, on the corner of State Hwys. 27 and 29. Helen would often say she could change flat tires faster than John.
She worked as a cook/waitress for Ted Arneson at the Coffee Cup until 1971, when she was hired as the head cook for the Cadott School District. Known for her cooking and baking skills, students soon enjoyed fresh baked bread, cookies and a student favorite, hamburger gravy.
Retiring in 1993, after working for 23 years, she and John settled in down along the Yellow River, where she continued to garden, fish and painting John’s scroll-saw projects.
Helen was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and the Cadott Historical Society.
She is survived by daughter – Donna Mae (Anson) Albarado, Cadott; daughter-in-law – Lois Klay, Chetek; grandchildren – Andy (Aliesha) Albarado, Bruce, Jill Albarado, Fitchburg, Chris (Leslie) Klay, Breese, Ill., Ben (Erin) Klay, Parker, Colo., and Matt (Jill) Klay, Chippewa Falls; greatgrandchildren – Kyra, Bennet, Caden, Cooper, Emmitt and Whitney; stepgrandchildren – Whitley and Alexia Harelstad; sister – Alice Gudmanson; sisters-in-law – Evelyn and Sylvia Kvapil; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband – John; son – Chris; sisters – Georgianne Guthrie, Lillian Hickethier, Hattie Zophie and Mildred Timmerman; and brothers – Jerome, Albert and Robert Kvapil.
Service were held at 11 a.m., Monday. Jan. 10, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cadott, with the Rev. Dr. Gary Paul officiating. Interment was in the Brooklawn Cemetery in Cadott, following the service.
Visitation was held from 9:30 a.m., until the time of service, Monday morning, at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 215 Seminary St., Cadott, WI 54727, or Cadott Area Historical Society, 615 State Hwy. 27, Cadott, WI 54727.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.leiserfuneralhome. com. Leiser Funeral Home in Cadott, is assisting the family.
