Benjamin A. Klinge

Benjamin Albert Klinge, the son of Otto and Hattie (Kahlstorf) Klinge was born on October 5, 1929 on the family farm located four and one-half miles south of Duncan. Ben died at the Belmond Medical Center after a brief illness with cancer on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Funeral Services for Benjamin Klinge will be held Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Peace Reformed Church in rural Garner with Pastor Harvey Opp officiating. Burial will be in the Peace Reformed Church Cemetery with full military services being provided by the Britt Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 8, 2009 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Chapel 178 Center Street West in Britt and continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Ben grew up on the family farm and graduated from Garner High School. He was a talented football player and is remembered by his teammates and competitors as a "tough" player. You wanted Ben on your side when it came to football. After a partial year of college, Ben entered the United States Marine Corps on February 13, 1952. Ben was a Corporal at the 9th MCRRD, Chicago, Illinois as an aircraft mechanic. He received Airman Class "P" training in Jacksonville, Florida and Avn Structure Mechanic "A" training in Memphis Tennessee. He received the National Defense Service Medal. He separated from the service in Santa Anna, California in 1954.

Ben returned to the family farm to assist his father and continued to work the family farm when Otto retired in 1966.

Ben enjoyed his nieces and nephew as they grew up. He taught them fishing - his favorite, bowling, roller-skating and even how to milk the cows. They loved coming to the farm and spending time with him. Ben lived farming. He loved the hard work. His United States Marine Corps mechanic background served him well on the farm. He enjoyed repairing any and all kinds of farm equipment.

Ben was baptized, confirmed and a lifetime member at the Peace Reformed Church of rural Garner.

Ben is survived by two sisters, Mabel, Mrs. Ben Barkema of Clarion, Iowa and Dorothy, Mrs. Richard Legge of Newton, Kansas; four nieces, great nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Hattie in1968 and Otto in 1979, three brothers; Elmer Klinge in 1920, Paul Klinge in 1935 and John Klinge in 1941.