Austin Klahn Obituary

DALHART - Austin Elwood Klahn, 99, died Sunday, September 4, 2016.

Mass will be celebrated at September 24, 2016 at 10:00 am at St. Anthony's Catholic Church by the Monsignor Michael Colwel, Pastor. Arrangements are by Horizon Funeral Home.

Austin Klahn was born in Durango, Colo., August 6th, 1917. He graduated from Durango High School in 1935 and attended the University of Colorado in Fort Collins graduating in Forestry in 1939.

When WWII broke out Austin joined the Army Air Corp and progressed in rank as a pilot and flight instructor.

In 1942, he married Helene Simmons in Durango, CO. They initially met while Helene was a 'hat check girl' at a dance. They moved to Fort Worth and in 1946 to the Texas Panhandle where he worked for the Soil Conservation Service "reseeding" the dust bowl.

He bought a farm in Dalhart and simultaneously accepted a position with the US Forest Service and they moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1958. Initially, they were located in Baker Or., transferred to Medford Or., then to Omak, Wa. In Omak, Austin was responsible for Range, Wildlife and Watershed on the Okanogan National Forest, while Helene continued her nursing career in each city.

They returned to Dalhart in 1973 where both "retired". Together, they proceeded to remodel the farmhouse and build a profitable cow/calf operation. Austin always said he was ahead because he didn't need a vet. Helene handled all the medical needs for the cattle from pulling calves to vaccinations. Later on, they converted to circle irrigation and turned from cattle to crops. He always said he traveled the country 'dropping off kids along the way'. Their children were spread around the country and continue to be to this day.

Helene predeceased Austin in 1999. Survivors include four children, Marie Tufts (Ray) of Vancouver, Wash., Charlotte Dazell of Phoenix, Az., Austin E. Klahn II (Cora) of Commerce City Co. and Patricia Oberg (David) of Holland, Mich. He is survived by 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, with one more on the way.

The family requests memorials to St. Anthony's Catholic School.