BELLEVILLE - Mrs. R. Raymond (Klara) Talmage, age 104, died on Monday, October 17, 2011 at Community Living Home Options in Monroe. The former Klara Ann Thomann was born in Lafayette County, on August 18, 1907, the daughter of Gottfried and Susanna (Rufener) Thomann. She graduated from the Attica Rural School and the Monticello High School in 1924 as valedictorian of her class. During her high school years, she boarded at the Paul Altmann home and worked as a switch board operator for the Monticello telephone exchange. She graduated from the Green County Normal School, and taught at the Ross and Ferguson Rural Schools. Her marriage to R. Raymond Talmage took place on June 2, 1927 in St. John's Evangelical Church, Monroe, by the Rev. P. A. Schuh. They farmed for forty two years in Mt. Pleasant Township, before retiring to rural Belleville in 1972. Klara was a member of Zwingli United Church of Christ, Monticello.

Klara is survived by nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband R. Raymond, August 7, 1974, a daughter Betty Ann, June 3, 1943, her mother January 19, 1960, father December 12, 1966, two sisters Hilda S., August 7, 1916, Mrs. Wayne (Ella) Nelson, March 2, 2010, two brothers George H, April 16, 1915 and Paul G., September 20, 1988.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at Zwingli United Church of Christ-Monticello, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello, WI with Rev. Lawrence Balleine officiating with burial in the Exeter Cemetery, rural Belleville, WI.

Relatives and friends may call from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI.

The family would like to thank Elizabeth Flood and the staff at Community Living Home Options for their care and kindness.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at www.bealfuneralhomes.com.