M/ Ruth "Babe" (Dietrich) Kline

M. Ruth "Babe" (Dietrich) Kline, 86, of Green Acres Road, Benton, died early Thursday morning, November 11th, 2010, at the Bloomsburg Hospital where she had been a patient for one day. Born April 18, 1924 in Shickshinny, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Catherine (Berry) Dietrich. She was preceded in death by her husband, H. Dayne Kline on May 19, 2007, which broke a marital span of 61 years. She graduated from St. Petersburg High School in Florida and also attended a business school in St. Petersburg. In her younger years she played the violin in the St. Petersburg Orchestra. Mrs. Kline assisted her husband with the operation of the family dairy farm for many years until road construction on Rt. 487 forced them to sell their house to the state and the barn was torn down. She later worked as a substitute in the cafeteria for the Benton Area School District for several years. She was raised in the Methodist faith but after her marriage to Dayne and moving to Benton she became a member of Benton Christian Church. Mrs. Kline loved to fly with her husband, Dayne, in a plane owned by the Benton Flying Club. They also enjoyed traveling across the country in their camper. Dayne and Ruth were noted for donating land for the Benton Cemetery to expand. She loved to play cards and was a member of several local card clubs including the Nellie Club, Club 13 and the Monday Card Club. She was also a member of the Benton Grange. Surviving, are her 4 children: Thomas Michael Kline and his wife, Denise; Kay Emily Kline; Robert Edward Kline and his wife, Margie; Susan Louise Cole and her husband, Edward L., all of Benton; 6 grandchildren: Clint, Travis, Chase, Tara, Edward and Miles; and a great grandson, Landon Michael Kline; a brother-in-law, David R. Kline and his wife, Marcia Kay, of Benton and a sister-in-law, Helen Dietrich, of Othello, Washington. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Ann Kline on July 13, 1954 and a grandson, Dayne Leonard Cole on April 7, 1994. The last member of her immediate family she was preceded in death by 4 siblings: Harry, James and Jack Dietrich and Audrey Crossley. Funeral Services will be held Monday at 10 A. M. at the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., 4394 Red Rock Road, Benton (Rt. 487). Burial will be in the Benton Cemetery. A Viewing will be held Sunday from 6 to 8 PM at McMichael's.

M/ Ruth "Babe" (Dietrich) Kline

April 18, 1924 - November 11, 2010