Carl Klein

Funeral services for Carl Klein were held on Monday February 26, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Methodist Church in Gregory, SD with Rev, Thanael Certa-Werner and Pastor Scott McClellen officiating. Music was provided by Geoff Smith, vocalist, accompanied by Bette Fogel, pianist. Darlene Shattuck, Sally Shaffer and Linda Mae Leber were in charge of registration. Flower attendant was Jessi Iwan. Casket bearers were Keven Klein, Joe Klein, Wes Schell, Scott Anshutz, Bob Wik, and Bob Fenenga. Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD with military honors conferred by the Gregory American Legion, Dallas American Legion, and the National Honors Team. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Carl was born on January 6, 1932, in Colome, SD, to August Sr. and Frances (Ernestine) Klein, the eighth of twelve children. Carl worked on the family farm in his younger years, and later was inducted into the US Army on October 8, 1953 and served until October 7, 1955 He was private first class as a gun crewman and awarded the National Defense Service medal.

After service to his country, he worked for his brother John in the Klein Moving Company in Gregory, SD.

During this time, he met and married Mavis Ellen Nelson on November 14, 1964, in the Gregory United Methodist Church. Their son Keven was born on December 24, 1966. Carl continued working for his brother and took time off to spend two years working on the Nelson farm southwest of Dallas, SD.

Carl was an excellent carpenter as he bought and remodeled two different homes in Gregory. He could fix anything. After working at the Nelson farmstead, they moved back into Gregory. He kept busy working for his nephew in the Klein’s True Value Hardware, with his brother in the John’s Moving Company, and as custodian at the Methodist Church.

Carl loved to fish and spent many hours at the river enjoying his retirement. Then in June of 2018, he and Mavis sold their home in Gregory and moved to Pierre, SD to be closer to their son. They resided in an apartment there until failing health in November of 2022 necessitated a move into Aventara Pierre Longterm Care facility. In January 2024, he moved to the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center. He really looked forward to moving back to Gregory. He lived there until his death on February 23, 2024.

Carl was a member of the Gregory United Methodist Church, and the Gregory American Legion.

He is survived by his wife Mavis (Nelson) Klein of Gregory, SD; son Keven of Pierre, SD; Kathlyn Nadal a special “granddaughter” of Sioux Falls, SD; sisters June Pravecek of Denver, CO, and Betty Besmer of Omaha, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: August Jr., Albert, John, Clarence; and sisters: Helen, Frances, Lucy, Delores, and Donna.