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Hilda Kletke was born on the Kletke family farm seven miles northwestof Alva, Oklahoma. The second daughter of Edward and Ida Louisa Kletketo survive infant death, she was thrown into family struggling tosurvive and a society that would soon look away from it's Germancitizens. She started school at the age of six and walked a mile to and fromschool every day with her sister Erna. Speaking only German, schoolwas a special challenge since the teacher and all the other studentsspoke only English. Till she could communicate effectively with theother students, Hilda was set aside in a corner of the room to studyon her own. She quickly learned enough English to participate inschool and became proficient with the language around age ten. After a few years getting used to a strange language, WW1 beganbrewing and America as a whole began to question all of it's Germancitizens. The Kletke family was no exception. Hilda remembers that sheand her sisters were allowed to go home a half hour earlier than theother students to avoid any after school confrontations. In 1917, the family moved to Optimo, New Mexico, to help with IdaLouisa's Tuberculosis. Hilda continued her education there and startedHigh School in 1920. After only three short years, Hilda graduated andstarted teaching the next year. Hilda started teaching in Cimarron, New Mexico, but didn't stay therefor long. She was quickly moved to Hope, and finally to Artesia, NewMexico. The students in her classes were primarily of Spanish/Mexicandescent and spoke very little English. Faced with this new challenge,Hilda learned to speak Spanish and taught these students in their owntongue. She successfully helped these students out of the samesituation she had been in 20 years earlier. Being a teacher, Hilda understood the value of an education andcontinued hers during the summers. She attended Oklahoma NorthwesternUniversity in Alva, Oklahoma; Columbia University in New York; andHighlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Transferring creditsbetween colleges became a hassle since not all of the universitiesacknowledged each others accreditation; but finally, in 1940, she wasawarded her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from HighlandsUniversity. She taught for the next ten years in Artesia, New Mexico,before the next chapter of her life began. While spending a summer in Alva, Hilda threw a party and by chance metJulius Kirmse. Julius's wife had died 4 to 5 years earlier and hadleft him with 3 small children. They soon fell in love and weremarried in the fall of 1951. She quit her teaching position in NewMexico and at the age of 46, found herself mother of 3 children: Dale,14; Donna, 8; and Judy, 6. For the next 18 years, the Kirmses lived on their farm south of Alvaand made a good life for themselves. Julius managed a small ranch withcows, chickens, hogs, and bees; and also worked a number wheat fields.Hilda filled her time as a housewife, mother, and church volunteer. In 1969, with the children gone, Hilda and Juluis moved to town andbought a new home on the west side of Alva where they currently live.Even though the kids are grown and very successful, neither Hilda orJulius are ready to retire. Through the years they have continued towork hard and even at the ages of 91, Julius works the farm and Hildaworks in the house. I even remember my brother Bruce and sister Cathyspending a number of summers in Alva with Hilda and Julius helping outon the farm and learning as much as possible. Hilda and Julius are both longtime members of Zion Lutheran Church inAlva and have served that congregation in many capacities. Hilda is amember of the LWML (Lutheran Women's Missionary League) and the Mary &Martha League. In her 26 years as a teacher, Hilda was recognized numerous times andearned several awards. She is also a member of the Delta Kappa GammaSorority and the Delta Zeta Sorority.
Roger
Engelken
