Jennie Klasna

A graveside service for Jennie (Senrud) Hutton Klasna will be 10:00 a. m. Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Beaverlodge Cemetery with Pastor Steve DeFord officiating. Lunch will be served at the Ekalaka Bible Church following the service. A beautiful voice drifted silently away recently. Jennie (Senrud) Hutton Klasna passed away and her silence leaves us heartbroken. Her family, friends and the fans of her writing will forever miss her. Jennie May (Senrud) Hutton Klasna, age 86, of Ekalaka, Montana passed away peacefully on Monday, April 25, 2016 in Ekalaka with all of her children at her side. Jennie had been a writer most of her life. Her writing captured the essence of farm life on the Great Plains. Her prose would wash over us as she described the beauty of a prairie rainstorm or an autumn sunset. Her writing was always optimistic and full of hope and love. She often said that her life “…was never easy but always fulfilling”. Many people who read her “Dear friends”, “Letters from the Plains” or “The Corner” articles would read of a woman struggling against the loneliness of farm life. She eased her loneliness and found her friends by writing letters, stories and poems in local newspapers. Her articles and poetry appeared in national publications, regional and local newspapers, on PBS and Mid?Rivers television, CBS Regional Radio with Jim Thompson and on social media world?wide. She has won national and regional awards for her work and she has written several books. Her books have been found in Russia, Ireland and England and she has received thousands of fan letters as a result. Jennie was born on May 25, 1929, daughter of Thorvald and Juanita (Butler) Senrud in the Ekalaka Chalk Buttes area. She attended country schools, graduating from Carter County High School in 1947. December 27, 1947, Jennie married Joseph (Dude) Hutton. They were married 51 years. To this union eleven children were born. Jennie taught school throughout the area. She was a devoted wife and loving mother. She instilled strong ethics and morals to her extended family. On February 14, 2000, Jennie lost her husband Joe. She was widowed for eight years. In 2009, she met and married Kenneth Klasna. They were married for six years. They enjoyed traveling and dancing throughout Montana and North Dakota. Sadly Kenny passed away in May 2014. Jennie spent the remainder of her years in Ekalaka with family and friends. She is survived by her sisters; Shirley (James) Hedrick, Thelma Senrud?Lukkes of Absarokee, MT and Norma Lawrence of LaCrosse, WI, daughter Barb (Dick) Elmore of Newell, SD, daughter Beverly (Slim) Willson of Tioga, ND, daughter Dixie (Arnie) Erickson of Gillette, WY, son Joe Hutton of Sidney, MT, daughter Sherry (Randy) Stambaugh of Sidney, MT, son Michael (Kimberley) Hutton of Beach, ND, daughter Debra (Roger) Kortum of Ekalaka, MT. Jennie is survived by numerous grandchildren, including great & great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Jennie was preceded in death by her parents: Thorvald and Juanita Senrud, her husbands: Joseph (Dude) Hutton of 51 years and Kenneth Klasna of six years; children: James, William, Kathy and Douglas Hutton. Sisters Elanie Miller and Gladys Senrud; brothers John and Robert Senrud.


Burial Date: June 18, 2016

Graveside Service: Saturday: Beaverlodge Cemetery, Ekalaka, MT