Delma Jean (Dj) Jones Klassen was born April 28, 1918, (two years before women in America were allowed to vote) to Ruth and Albert Terrill Jones on an alfalfa ranch in Fallon, Nevada. Dj died August 16, 2015, in Portland, Oregon, with her daughter, Suzanne and her son, Bruce by her side.Dj's family moved to Gresham, Oregon, when she was 6 years old where her family lived in a tent on her uncle's raspberry farm, then to Vancouver, WA, and to Grants Pass when she was 10. Dj was the sixth of seven Jones children, six of whom proceeded her in death: Frances Hall, Dr. Myron D. Jones, Marjorie Varner, Ina Pinniger, Grace Jones and Terrill Jones. During her first six years in Nevada, she developed a lifelong love of horses.She graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1936 and worked at the Golden Rule Store before attending Willamette University where she was a member of the Beta Chi Sorority, working part time at Montgomery Ward. At Willamette, she met Al Klassen whom she married in 1941. They lived in Mount Vernon, WA, and Seattle where she worked for the Austen Company before accompanying her husband to South Bend, Indiana, where she worked for the U.S. Army while he participated in the Navy's Midshipman Program at Notre Dame University. She lived in San Francisco during her husband's sea duty and worked for the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps, and later at the Oakland Army Base.In 1946, after the war ended, Al and Dj moved to Grants Pass, and Al became a partner in Rogue River Hardware. While maintaining their home and raising three children, Suzanne, Bruce, and Alan (deceased 1994), Dj was given free rein to design and build their dream home on Savage Street where they lived for many years.In 1966 the Klassens hosted an American Field Service student from Turkey, Erdal Yuzak, which led to Dj's involvement in major fund raising events for the organization and a visit to Istanbul by members of her family. Dj was a member of the Newman Methodist Church for many years, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. She was a member of P.E.O. since 1955, presiding as president three times. For 8 years Dj maintained a bed and breakfast in her home that benefited the scholarship program of P.E.O.At her 66th high school class reunion, Dj initiated a memorial fund for classmate Johnny Hampshire, named #2 Ace, who was shot down and killed after eights months of flying with the famed Flying Tigers. Dj established a Johnny Hampshire Scholarship at GPHS that has been awarded to deserving GPHS students every year since 1997. The Grants Pass Airport was dedicated as Hampshire Field and an eternal flame and monument to Hampshire was erected and lit at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Hampshire was inducted into the Oregon Aviation Hall of Honor in 2004. At that ceremony, Dj received a plaque in Johnny's name, which is displayed at GPHS. At the invitation of the Flying Tiger National Organization, Dj attended their annual reunion in Oklahoma City in 2000. The public television station KSYS, with invaluable information provided by Dj, produced the "Hometown Heroes" documentary telling the Hampshire story.For 20 years, starting at age 60, after her divorce, Dj spent many happy hours cross-country skiing and river rafting. Dj performed and did tech work at Barnstormers Theatre. She supported the Rogue Valley Symphony. Dj wrote and published several articles in national magazines and newspapers. Dj traveled extensively to South America, Europe, China, New Zealand, and especially enjoyed two trips to Africa with professional groups concerned with the survival of the cheetah and gorillas in Africa.During her final years she spent hours using her I Pad to read books, play on-line scrabble, email and Google!Dj is survived by her daughter, Suzanne (Ron Janson), son, Bruce (Patricia), and daughter-in-law, Elise Nations, (Randy); grandchildren, Julie Lowery (Bill), Katie Candeaux, Krissy Rowan (Tim), Anika Swift (Brad), Joel Janson, Carter Klassen Nations (Kai), and great grandchildren, Lexie and Macie Lowery, Kailey Candeaux, Grace Rowan and many nieces and nephews.Dj's ashes will be placed in a niche next to her beloved son, Alan, and near her infant son, John, at Hillcrest Memorial Park. A celebration of Dj's life will take place in Grants Pass on Sunday, September 13, 2015, from 2 - 5 p.m. Please email: [email protected] or call 503-296-0865 for details. A celebration will take place in Portland in mid-October.