R. Charlotte Kleen – age 88, of Pocahontas, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at The Villages of Legacy Pointe Hospice Unit in Waukee, Iowa.

Ruth Charlotte Hughes was born March 13, 1930, in Cape May, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Springer) Hughes. She was baptized, confirmed and grew up in the Episcopalian Church in Cape May. She graduated from Cape May High School in May 1948. Following graduation from high school, she continued to work at "Ben Franklin 5 and 10" as a waitress. In the Fall, she met Henry Heyen Kleen and they began dating until they were married on May 23, 1949. The following year, they had a son, Richard and a year later a daughter, Linda. On July 8, 1952 the family moved to Pocahontas, Iowa to the farmstead 4 ¾ miles west of Pocahontas to farm with a brother, Edwin. Edwin was drafted to the US Army in the Fall of 1952. Charlotte and Henry continued to live at the farm and raise a family. They had two more children eight and ten years later, Ruth and Julieann. Beginning in 1952, Charlotte and Henry engaged in Dairy and crop farming. Milk from their farm went to Pocahontas Dairy, Mid America Dairymen, INC (DFA) and AMPI. The cows were sold in 1970. From 1970 until they retired in 1994, they continued to crop farm. From 1980 to 1994, the two of them did the farming themselves as their children had grown and moved on with their lives. Following retirement in 1994, they decided to travel and see as much of the US they could. Summer months were spent camping all over the Midwest. January 1 through April 1 was spent in Weslaco, Texas. They took one summer (June, July, August) and spent those months touring and exploring Alaska.

Charlotte was a member of Eastern Star for many years. She served on the Pocahontas Election Committee and represented strong support for the Democratic Party. She was very active in the Ladies Auxiliary of St Peter Lutheran Church serving on many committees. She loved to paint and was awarded multiple blue and purple ribbons at the Spencer, Iowa, Clay County Fair. She was an active antique collector of dishes, furniture, Fort Dodge Masonry, books, coins, jewelry and more. She also took an active role in assisting her children in 4-H (Pocahontas, Manson, Spencer and Waterloo).

Survivors include four children: her son, Richard and his wife, Anna Mae Kleen of Rolfe, IA, her daughter, Linda St Peter of Johnston, IA, her daughter, Ruth Kleen of West Des Moines, IA and her daughter, Juliann Kleen of Sheldon, IA. She is survived by eight grandchildren: Bryan (Megan) Kleen, Jonathan (Sarah) Kleen, Stephani Carter, Jordan Kleen, Ronelle St Peter, Sonya (Brad) St Peter, Ryan St Peter, and Rachelle (Zachary) St Peter. She is survived by five great-grandchildren: Cassidy (Sonya/Brad) Duckworth, Ethan (Bryan/Megan) Kleen, Olivia (Bryan/Megan) Kleen, Aidan (Bryan/Megan) Kleen and Bianca (Jonathan/Sarah) Kleen. Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Kleen and her parents, Samuel and Ruth Hughes.