Leoda Ritchie Klindt

Biographical Sketch of Leoda (Ritchie) Klindt

Compiled in July 1969 by David Victor Barth.

Leoda, the fourth child of Jacob Lee and Addie Belle Ritchie, was born in Cooper County, Missouri. She was nicknamed "Odie" at a young age. In 1896 the Ritchie family moved to Russelville, Missouri.

Leoda was especially fond of her older brother, Porter. Young Leoda, pondering the phenomenon of the clouds crossing the sun and casting the earth in shadow, asked him about it. Porter's explanation was sufficient to answer her question and substantiate her belief that Porter was a very wise brother.

In 1911 Fred Emil Klindt married Leoda and they had two sons, Milburn Ritchie and Kenneth Emil. When he was ten years old, Milburn contracted tuberculosis which perforated a lung. Leoda took him to Colorado Springs in 1926 to help him recover in the dry climate. Fred and their other son, Kenneth, stayed behind in Eugene, Missouri. A year later Fred and Leoda were divorced.