Loretta Kleinsmith

Loretta Kleinsmith, age 91, passed away peacefully on. December 1, 2021, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, Kansas.

Loretta was a strong and amazing woman who was blessed to live a long, full life. She was the 3rd oldest of 14 children, born on May 27, 1930 to Joseph and Victoria Papen of Sheridan, Oregon.  Loretta was a selfless woman, with many talents.  She had a strong love and devotion to her Catholic faith, especially the Blessed Mother and the Holy Rosary. She was a member of the Legion of Mary. She was always happiest being with her family, and couldn't get enough laughter in her life.  She was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, aunt, friend, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great-grandmother (117 grandkids strong).

Loretta married Aloysius Kleinsmith on September 30, 1950, in Sheridan, Oregon. Al & Loretta spent the first year of marriage “on the Kleinsmith farm” in Murdo, South Dakota, where their first child was born. Their second child was born in McMinville, Oregon. They then moved to Southern California, where they had another eight children.

Loretta had a home-based business called “Home-maker” (when her 3rd child was born, the oldest was 22 months old!!!) which was a voluntary position. After her youngest children reached high school she found jobs (that paid) outside the home, her proudest accomplishment being a Real Estate agent in Southern California.

Loretta & Al moved north, to Oregon, in 1989. They retired in the Salem / Silverton area, where they lived until Loretta's husband died in 2005. Loretta then moved to St Marys, Kansas in 2007, where she spent 5 years as a parishioner of Assumption Chapel. She then moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota in 2012, to be closer to some of her children in that part of the country. She moved back to Kansas in 2021, just 7 months prior to the day of her death, where she was again, a parishioner of Assumption Chapel in St. Marys.

She is survived by 9 of her 10 children: Mike Kleinsmith, Oakland, CA; David Kleinsmith, Maple Hill, KS; Randy (Pam) Kleinsmith, Daytona Beach, FL; Teri Frank, Wenden, AZ; Doug Kleinsmith, Minneapolis, MN; Judi Dedge, Des Moines, WA; Lori (Frank) Payne, Maple Hill, KS; Gerard (Kim) Kleinsmith, St. Mary's, KS; and, Rick Kleinsmith, St Augustine, FL.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Victoria and Joseph Papen, of Sheridan, OR; and 9 of her 13 siblings; and her husband of 54 years, Aloysius F Kleinsmith; and her second oldest son, Stephen Kleinsmith, Post Falls, ID.

Loretta was blessed to have received, just eight hours before dying - Holy Communion, Exreme Unction, and the Apostolic Blessing.

Rosary was on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at Assumption Chapel, Saint Marys, Kansas, at 5:20pm. Funeral Mass was offered on Friday, December 10, 2021, at Assumption Chapel, St. Marys, at 11:15am. Burial was at Our Lady of Peace cemetery in St. Marys, immediately following the Mass. There was a reception at the St Marys Senior Center, 403 West Lasley, in St Marys,  immediately following the burial. All are invited.