Elmer Robert Klein

Elmer died suddenly, a few days shy of his 96th birthday on the morning of October 1, 2021. He had just finished breakfast, where he chatted with neighbors at The Gardens in Marysville. His last conversation was on the phone with his loving daughter, Teresa.

Elmer’s long life was filled with challenges, joys and accomplishments. In recent years, Elmer found enjoyment in those little things of life, making a breakfast scramble, driving to the bank to chat up the teller, watching a Mariners or Zags game with his son or a late night movie with a daughter. Elmer enjoyed reading a good biography, the Reader’s Digest, the Everett Herald, and his Bible, which was always on the table beside his recliner. Easy listening music or a little country would often be playing on the TV in the background. Elmer’s days were not complete without his daily crossword and Jumble, and there was nothing he loved more than family and friends stopping by for a visit.

Born in Arlington, Washington on October 17, 1925, Elmer was the son of Ruthford “Bob” Klein and Johanna Kluin Klein. He descended from a long line of dairy farmers and continued that tradition throughout his working career, with a few short stints in other aspects of the dairy business.

Elmer graduated from Arlington High School with the class of 1943. In 1944 he enlisted as an aviation cadet in the US Naval Reserve, attending Gonzaga University, Whitman College, and St. Mary’s Flight School.

In 1943, Elmer met the love of his life, Betty Jane Woolen, at the Arlington Gospel Hall. Elmer was 17 and Betty was 13. Married in Everett on April 30, 1946, they spent their wedding night at the Monte Cristo Hotel before heading to Eastern Washington for their honeymoon. Elmer drove his dad’s 1940 Studebaker.

While engaged to be married, Elmer took out a $4,000 loan to buy farm machinery and a herd of 18 cows from his folks. The newlyweds started their farming and married life in the spring of 1946 on the “John Klein” farm, the first of several working farms the Kleins rented and owned through the years.

An example of Elmer’s grit in meeting the challenges of dairy farming occurred during the bitterly cold winter of 1948-49, when his growing herd of cows faced freezing temperatures as low as 10 degrees below zero.

Although the end of World War II canceled his dream of becoming a naval aviator, Elmer didn’t give up on flying. After only eight hours of service-entitled schooling, he flew solo for the first time. But his piloting experience came to an abrupt end when, in his own words, “I took Betty up after I got my license and scared her to death.” Maybe it was just as well he stayed grounded because Elmer was about to enter a new phase in his life—as a father. Elmer and Betty’s first born, Sandra Joy, came into the world in 1947, followed by Daniel Robert in 1949 and Barbara Lynn in 1951.

Over the next few years, the Klein family moved to five more farms. At one point, Elmer—never one to shy away from hard work—was even milking two herds of cows, his own and a relative’s.

In 1955, Elmer stepped away from milking cows for a few years to work for the Washington Milk Producers Association, an organization of farmers working together to help stabilize the dairy market. He left the milking parlor again in 1964, taking a job as field manager for the Northwest Dairymen’s Association-Darigold. This involved a “big move to the city,” Lake Stevens, a commute to Seattle, and quite a change in lifestyle.

While Elmer’s work for Darigold was highly praised, his boss later recognized that “the farm and the dairy cows were his real work love, and that’s where Elmer and Betty made their mark.” With another baby on the way, Elmer and Betty returned to dairying after making their last farm purchase, the “Terhorst Farm” on the Stillaguamish River in Arlington in the spring of 1969. Their youngest daughter, Teresa Dawn was born in June of that year. What followed were more years of hard work and fun-filled summers with family and friends down by the river. And of course, childrens’ marriages, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

In partnership with son Dan and wife Pam, Elmer and Betty ran a 150-acre dairy farm with 150 Holstein cows. Elmer, Betty and family were named Snohomish County and Washington State Dairy Family of the Year in 1979, and in 1991, Elmer was inducted into the Snohomish County Dairy Hall of Fame. His many other dairy related leadership roles included serving on the board of directors of Darigold Farms, as president of the Snohomish County Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA), and as Vice President of the Interstate Federal Land Bank Association Board.

After selling the renamed Stilli-Ridge Dairy in 1994 to Dan and Pam, Betty and Elmer retired to a home in Arlington. They spent the winter months at a second house in Homeland, California, where Elmer enjoyed golfing and spending time with family and friends. After his beloved wife’s death in 2011, Elmer continued to live in Arlington until May 2021, when a broken leg necessitated a move to The Gardens assisted-living residence in Marysville. His positive spirit and friendly, compassionate ways remained with him for the rest of his life.

Among those who will remember Elmer with deepest love and affection are his brother, George Klein; his children, Sandi Dollar, Dan Klein (Pam), Barbara Klein (Gary Larson), and Teresa Suit (Cory); his grandchildren, Jason Klein, Jami Klein-Adams, Marneye Driesen (Tyson), Brady Dunn, and Casey Dunn; and his great grandchildren, Damon Adams, Dylan Adams, Demri Adams (Cooper McAuslan), Treyvin Driesen and Kyden Driesen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice or Arlington High School, Future Farmers of America. Please mark these donations “FFA in memory of Elmer Klein” and mail to:

Arlington High School

Attn: Jessica Angel

18821 Crown Ridge Blvd

Arlington, WA 98223

At this time, due to covid, there will be a private graveside service.