Thomas Klein

Thomas R. Klein, age 65 of Hoople, North Dakota, formerly of Sauk Centre, Minnesota died peacefully surrounded by his family Friday, December 14, 2012 at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, Minnesota after a battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, December 28 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Rev. Todd Schneider will officiate. Inurnment will follow in St. Paul's Cemetery with military honors provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

Thomas Richard Klein was born March 10, 1947 in Melrose, Minnesota to John, Jr. and LaVonne (Wildman) Klein. He was a 1965 graduate of Sauk Centre High School. He married Okchu "Candy" Kang on November 7, 1968 and they later divorced. On June 5, 1998 he married Evonne Jenson and they later divorced.

He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 until his retirement from active duty on September 1, 1985. He was stationed in Korea, North Dakota, Louisiana, Germany, and Montana, with his favorite being in Montana. After his retirement he resided in Hoople, North Dakota and he was employed by Motor Coach Industries, Inc. in Pembina, North Dakota.

He was an avid deer hunter as a young man and enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings, NASCAR, country music, watching western movies and had a passion for animals, especially horses and dogs. He was a former member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre and a lifetime member of VFW Post 3817 in East Grand Forks, Minnesota and American Legion Post 500 in Fargo, North Dakota.

Survivors include three daughters, Suzanne Klein (Rose) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Tina Klein (Lee Lodermeier) of St. Cloud and Pamala Klein (Lonnie Rodeski) of Little Falls; step-daughter, Faye Ask (Gary) of North Dakota; six grandchildren, Jessica, Erik, Olivia, Jonathan, Shayla and Jordana; brothers and sisters, Dan (Char) Klein of Ramsey, Barb (Dave) Wiegers of Monticello, Sharon Klein of Shakopee, Michael "Mickey" Klein of Sauk Centre, Judy (Joe) Deters of Sauk Centre, David (Bonnie) Klein of Shakopee and Janelle (Scott) Polipnick of Sauk Centre.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Mark Klein.

Urn bearer will be Sharon Klein. Honorary bearers will be his nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.