Eugene Lauren Kleven

October 28, 1945 — December 9, 2012

Eugene "Geno" Lauren Kleven was born October 28, 1945, in Dawson to parents Ivan and Ione (Dalen) Kleven. He was baptized at Kviteseid Lutheran Church. Gene grew up on the family farm in Lac qui Parle County with his brother, Stanley, and sister, Cheryl. He was educated in Milan Public Schools, graduating in 1963. Gene then enrolled in Augsburg College, Minneapolis, where he sang in the choir. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1968 and discharged in 1970. He was stationed in Korea as a radio specialist. After his discharge, Gene studied at Moorhead State College, graduating in 1974 with a degree in biology. Thereafter Gene worked on the family farm and at US Cylinder in Milan and Del Dee Foods in Appleton. On November 21, 1987, Gene married Cheryl Jankiewicz at the Kleven family farm. Gene and Cheryl then moved to southeastern Minnesota where their daughter, Megan Lucille, was born in 1988. Gene worked as a soil conservation technician with the U. S. Department of Agriculture until he retired in 2007. In 1994, Gene purchased land along the Zumbro River in Hammond where he built himself a flood-resistant, solar-powered home on stilts to enjoy his great life pleasures: energy conservation, hunting, fishing, antique lamp collecting, the company of his dogs, long-time friends and, most of all, his daughter Megan. Gene died on Sunday, December 9th, at Maple Manor in Rochester after a brief cancer hospitalization. He had attained 67 years, 1 month, and 11 days of age. He is survived by his daughter, Megan Kleven of Mikawa, Japan; mother, Ione Kleven, of Appleton; brother Stanley (Kathy) Kleven of Athens, GA; sister, Cheryl (David) Doely of Dallas, TX; six nieces and nephews: Laurel (Russell) Carter, Tim Kleven, Dan (Noel Desimone) Kleven, Noah Doely, Peter (Rachel) Doely, and Siri Doely; a great-niece, MacKenzie Carter; and other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Ivan Kleven; and his sister, Shirley Jean Kleven.

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Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, December 15, 2012

12:00 - 1:30 pm (Central time)

Kviteseid Lutheran Church-Milan, MN

3580 North Benton Avenue, Helena, MT 59602

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