Duane "Dewey" Kleve

Duane A. “Dewey” Kleve, age 76 of Albany, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 15 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany with Rev. Julius Beckermann, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Albany American Legion. 

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the Seven Dolors Gathering Area in Albany. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the Gathering Area.

Duane Anton Kleve was born July 28, 1947 in Little Canada, Minnesota to Walter and Dolores (Hoppe) Kleve and grew up in St. Rosa. Dewey enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966 and was stationed in Korea as a track vehicle mechanic until his honorable discharge in 1969. He was united in marriage to Louise “Lou Ann” Zierden on June 9, 1973 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. Dewey and Lou Ann made their home in Albany. They rented a farmhouse for nine years and built their new home on five acres southwest of Albany in 1982. They raised their family there having room to play and grow. The grandchildren loved the room to ride 4-wheeler around and gave room for Dewey to garden, which subsequently lead to expanding the garden every year.

Dewey worked at Anderson Trucking Service for 41 years from 1969 through 2010. After retirement he worked at Albany Fleet Supply for five years. He was a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany and was a member of the Albany American Legion for over 50 years. Dewey loved tending to his garden and enjoyed going to Pioneer Days with his kids and grandkids.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Lou Ann Kleve of Albany; children, Craig Kleve (Faith Thomas) of Albany, Kristie Kleve, Stephanie (Trevor) Thompson of Sauk Centre, Ann (Nathan) Welle of Sauk Centre; close family member, Paul Bendel; grandchildren, Parker Bendel, Jett Kleve, Emily and Ellie Wojtanowitz, and Gage and Drake Welle; step grandchildren, Garrett (Alicia), Gabriel (Maylin), and Grant (Kelsey) Thompson; step great-grandchild, Gretta Thompson; sisters, Jan (Donnie) Braegelmann of Albany, Denise (Jon Hedtke) Kleve of Regal, and  Lilah (Ron) Stellmach of Foley; sister-in-law, Julie Kleve of Albany; brother-in-law, Lornie Middendorf; and many nieces and nephews.

Dewey was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Joyce Middendorf; brother, Delroy Kleve; brothers-in-law, Tommy Mauritz and David Elfering; and in-laws, Hubert and Agatha Zierden.