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.