Barbara Klante
Updated: Oct 12
Barbara (Cowden) Klante was born on May 11, 1937, in Sheridan, WY, to Russell & Zella Cowden, joining a sister, Beverly J. Cowden, three and a half years older. The family relocated to Butte, MT, where father, Russell, started work in the mines. After he had an accident, the family moved to Spokane, WA. Barbara started the 3rd grade at Garfield
Elementary and graduated from North Central High School in 1955.
She married Dennis Klante in March of 1957. Their daughter, Kim, was born in April 1958, and their son, Gregor, in July 1961. In 1967, Barbara was hired at the Spokane Indians Baseball Club as the office secretary. In the early ‘70s, the Dodgers moved the Indians franchise to Los Angeles, and she began working at Playfair Horse
Racing as an executive assistant to the owner. Barbara returned to the Spokane Indians Baseball Club when the Brett Brothers purchased the franchise. After a total of over 25 years with the Spokane Indians Ball Club, she retired in 2003/2004.
Preceded in death by her parents and sister, survived by her daughter Kim Bokma; her son Gregor Klante/Alicea Frost; her grandson Tanner Bokma; her granddaughter Hannah Bokma/Joe Williamson; and her great-granddaughter Blakely Jo. Barbara enjoyed the lifelong friendship of her “Golden Girls” with whom she had graduated high school with. A perennial cruiser, she had traveled on nearly 50 ocean cruises with her sister and multiple friends.
Services will be held Friday, 10:00 AM, October 23, 2026, at Sunset Chapel, Fairmount Memorial Cemetery, 5200 W. Wellesley Ave.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Spokane Humane
Society.
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