New to the area, but not new to Montana, is Jennie Hutton Klasna. Klasna has been creative writing in poetry and prose since she was in elementary school.

She first learned her love of writing with her teacher in sixth grade, Miss Phyllis Kleppin, a woman of 91 years who still lives in Glasgow. Klasna writes in her book “Apron Strings and Axe Handles,” “Miss Phyllis Kleppin awakened my writing soul when I was in her sixth grade. God bless her!”

Klasna was able to visit Kleppin in Glasgow while on her honeymoon with husband, Ken Klasna. “She (Kleppin) told me in school that I could be a writer,” she said. “I hadn’t seen her since I was 12 years old.”

deniece schwab Jennie Hutton Klasna enjoys writing about many things. Several of her inspirational writings are in this book, “Apron Strings and Axe Handles.”

Later on, another English literature teacher in high school inspired Klasna to stick with her writing. Students had to write as well as memorize. Klasna sold her first story, a year after that class, to the Dakota Farmer magazine, where she continued to write for many years. Her writing career with Dakota Farmer began when the magazine was put in her mailbox by mistake in the 1970s. “I sent them an article, and they published it,” Klasna said. “By the third article I sent, the Dakota Farmer asked me to write a column on a regular basis (it lasted) for 17 years.” The column was called “Dear Friends.”

Other published articles or columns appeared in Campers Calling, Majestic Montana, Good Old Days, Denver Post, Playgrounds of the Rockies, American Cowboy, Cappers Farmer, Montana Farmer, The Farmer (Mt. Hope, Ohio), Women’s Circle, Woman’s Household, Grit, Brave Heart, Miles City Star, Billings Gazette, Rapid City Journal, Kansas City Star, Organic Gardening, Rural Montana, Iowa Farmer, Montana Wildlife, Conservation News, The Finder, Wyoming Wildlife, Senior Citizen News, The Windmill, Quilt World, Montana Poet, Beartooth Press, Farm Journal, Farm Times, Colfax Press (Kansas), Quick and Easy Cooking, World of Poetry, Country, The Cowboy Magazine and the Ekalaka Eagle.

Klasna has been awarded three first prize state awards in Montana American Mothers contests, which included the poem “Gifts of the Heart” in the book “Leaning in the Wind,” a book of women writers of the West. Her published books include (out of print) “Biscuits and Blue Jeans,” “All it Takes is A Sitdown Strike,” “ Dear Friends,” “Cactus and Calico,” and “Apron Strings and Axe Handles.”

Klasna is from Ekalaka. She was a city girl, living on the edge of town, who married a farmer. She didn’t know anything about machinery. “I didn’t know what an open end wrench was,” Klasna said. After her husband of 53 years past away, she stayed on the farm until recently when she decided to come to Sidney to be close to her daughter Sheri Stambaugh, postmaster in Sidney. “I think the 14 days without electricity at the house did me in,” she said. “I also had to be closer to the doctors.” Klasna moved to Sidney May 20, 2008, met her present husband and married Ken Sept. 12.

Klasna’s children: Sheri; Barb in Newell, S.D.; Beverley in Georgia; Jimmy, who died in 1974; Dixie in Gillette, Wyo.; Joe in Billings; Mike in Hager City, Wis., and Debbie in Ekalaka. I have a wonderful family,” she says. Klasna has one grandson, Damien Kortum, that has taken up writing. Kortum is a professor in English in creative writing.

Klasna has three sisters, (all younger she says). Her sister Thelma did the artwork in the book. She’s encouraged by family, friends and readers that want to be a part of her gift. “I have a lot of people all over the Dakotas that have written to me,” she says. “That’s better praise than anything, I think. They really care.”

One of her most favorite poems is entitled, “Song of the Prairie.”

Song of the Prairie

Going back to my childhood,

And songs that did spill

From the top of the pine trees

To the green grassy rill

I still hear their echoes

In breezes that blow

But my favorite melody

Was stilled long ago.

As I sat by the screen door

Where cool shadows swell

It would rise with a whimper

Then sigh as it fell.

The sweet tender murmur

Of the old windmills song

Is an ageless memory

Of days now long gone.

When breeze come whispering,

If I close my eyes

I feel the sunshine

Hear that heart tugging cry.

It brings such a happiness

Of a far away past.

I dream in its shadow

And pray it will last.

Another one is “Eventide”

Eventide

At evening

When the golden light hangs heavy

Across the valley

Up the vine clad hills

I’d love to hurry

Climb the highest summit

Watch the light go as the late lark trills.

The first star winks in radiant greeting

The velvet night

Around me softly clings

As one by one the candles flame in heaven

And make the silky silence seem to sing.

Against the black

A sudden burst of glowing

Like laughter rippling over and beyond

The moon arises with a rush of glory

Making wrinkled faces in the pond.

Klasna finds inspiration in the morning, “I kind of have an urge to write,” she says. “Sometimes deadlines are hard to keep. You can’t let me go, or I can’t catch up!”

Klasna is inspired by Montana scenery, as well as wildlife – it’s always so beautiful, she says. Children are also an inspiration to this writer.

One of her grandchildren came up to her one day and said, “Grandma, would you do something for me?” She replied, “Well sure, if I can.” Her grandson responded back, “My stomach sure does want your doughnuts!” It’s a story Klasna tells as she giggles, “It wasn’t the taste buds, but it was his stomach doing the talking,” she said.

Klasna will write about every day happenings, nature and apron strings until there’s nothing left to write about. Her poetry and prose illustrate all that is, is.

homespun@sidneyherald.com