Ervin Klein

Ervin E. "Billy" Klein, age 86 of Albany, died unexpectedly and peacefully on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 21 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albany with Pastor Stephen Cook officiating. Interment will be in Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery in Albany with military honors by the Albany American Legion.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church in Albany.

Ervin Edmund Klein was born December 23, 1928 in Albany, Minnesota to Paul and Rose (Baggenstoss) Klein. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 through 1954. On October 27, 1956 he married Ruth Kotzer at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Albany. They farmed together near the Holdingford area until 1981. Billy retired in 1981 but continued helping on the farm. He was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Billy loved being outdoors where he enjoyed farming, mowing the lawn, and cleaning the yard. He also enjoyed spending time with his family; including "coffee clutch" with his sisters, going to the sales barn, and going out to eat, especially to KFC and Charlie's Café!

Survivors include his children, Alan (LuAnn) Klein of Sauk Rapids, Jeffery (Mary Jo) Klein of Holdingford, Russell (Sheila) Klein of Clarissa, and Cheryl (Andrew) Hollermann of Albany; 12 grandchildren, Daniel (Brenda) Klein of Holdingford, Brian Klein of St. Cloud, Kevin Klein of St. Joseph, Adam (Kayla) Klein of Sauk Rapids, Jason (Melinda) Klein of Waite Park, Mitch Klein of St. Cloud, Kyle (Yalanda) Klein of Clarissa, Paul Hollermann of Albany, Ethan Hollermann of Clarissa, and Garrett Hollermann of Albany; seven great-grandchildren, Abigail, Hannah, Austin, Daisy, John, Paige, Kellie, Kendrick, and Kylee; sisters, Sharon Lehner of Albany, Carol (Jerry) Rodenwald of Albany, Jenny Cigelske of Hewitt, Arlene Landowski of Albany, and Doris (Ted) Koehn of Long Prairie; brothers-in-law, Donald Kotzer of Holdingford and Donald Litchy of Holdingford; and sisters-in-law, Janice Klein of Albany and Vera Klein of Minneapolis.

Ervin was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Ann Klein on September 14, 2013; parents; granddaughters, Brittany and Alyssa Klein; brothers, Alvin, Earl, Marvin, Lloyd, and Jerry; and sisters, Hildegard, Verna, Rose, Bernice, Amanda, Beverly, Erma, and Ardell.

Serving as casket bearers will be Daniel Klein, Kyle Klein, Adam Klein, Mitch Klein, Paul Hollermann, and Ethan Hollermann. Cross bearer will be Garrett Hollermann. Honorary bearer will be Brian Klein.