Kleva Hubbard

On June 17, 1919, a rather small 4-1/2 pound baby girl was born to Herman and Linnie Lindseth in Farmington Community, now Chateau, on the extreme western edge of the high great plains of Montana. Her name was Cleva June, for they named her for her beloved uncle. The young couple left with Cleva for Linnie’s home area in Western Oregon. Herman worked in the apple orchards around Monroe, while Linnie taught at the high school. A brother for Cleva showed up in due time. His name was Christopher. Cleva graduated with honors from Monroe Union High School, then graduated from the University of Oregon. She changed her name to Kleva and married her high school sweetheart. Her husband, Merle Dodd, joined the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, and was sent to the South Pacific Islands to battle the Japanese. Merle and Kleva both were great Americans. When Merle came back from the wars he, with friends, designed and started a cooperative plywood mill on the North California Coast. It was a success. He then designed and built many more plywood mills across the continent, and always faithful Kleva watched for ways to save money. Merle and Kleva flew their private plane across the continent to help with the many plywood mills. No babies ever showed up, though they wanted a family. In 1951, they adopted a baby boy and named him Stephen Dodd. Steve passed away in 1997. Years went by, and then...and then Merle and Kleva parted company. Kleva went back to school in Atlanta, where her home was located, and graduated as a trained nurse. She came back to Corvallis and her family farm to help her mother after her father, Herman, passed. Kleva had been alone for 12 years when one day, after the harvests were over, she was standing in front of the local Monroe grocery store. Right out of the blue, a middle-aged man said, “Hi, Kleva.” His name was Chauncey Hubbard. He had been alone for 13 years. Ninety days later, they were married. They moved into the old Lindseth home and lived happily ever after. They went to China shortly after Mao, the leader, died; a different China from now. They went down through Mexico, into Canada — north and east. Kleva and Chauncey made many trips across the United States and down into the South. Kleva started to fail in her early 80s, but continued for 10 more years. She made it through her 93rd birthday, and passed away on June 19, 2012. Kleva never, ever gave anybody any trouble, not even me. She was a true angel with gossamer wings, and I miss her. — Chauncey

Tributes

Kleva Hubbard

June 17, 1919 - June 19, 2012