Ervin Klemm

Ervin H. Klemm, 88, Wheaton, MN, passed away Saturday, December 12, 2015, at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley, MN, with Rev. Paul Warnier officiating. Music will be provided by organist Ginny Westbrock and vocalists Sue Sykora and Kelsey Holtz.

Burial will be in the Valley View Cemetery, Browns Valley. Pallbearers will be Matthew Klemm, Jessica Balog, Kayla Klemm, Kelly Klemm, Gavin Klemm and Michael Dobberstein.

Visitation will be Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. The Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt, SD, is in charge of the arrangements.

Ervin Herman Klemm was born April 23, 1927, to Herman and Clara (Schmitz) Klemm on the Klemm family farm in Folsom Township, Traverse County, MN. He was the youngest of six children and many knew him by "Babe" because of this. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley, where he was a lifelong member. He attended Folsom Country School through the eighth grade. Ervin remained on the family farm for 80 plus years, enjoying the country living.

On October 30, 1949, Ervin was united in marriage to Alice Boehmlehner at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, MN. They were blessed with two sons, Verney and Dareld. Along with farming, they raised pigs, sheep, chickens and cattle. Ervin also worked on local fishing crews, Lynch's Locker and the Wheaton Locker plant. In their younger years, Ervin and Alice enjoyed many dances and watching the Lawrence Welk show. Alice passed away in March 2003. Ervin moved to Wheaton in 2010 and made his home in the Traverse Care the last two years.

Farming, hunting, fishing and family were Ervin's life. He enjoyed farming and harvesting with his boys and grandsons. He passed on his talents of cleaning fish, birds and butchering skills to his sons. Ervin liked running around the farm with the 3-wheeler or going down to the County Park daily with his 4-wheeler to visit or make a buck or two selling wood he chopped. He fished Lake Traverse routinely and loved to trap minnows. Ervin never missed a duck opener and could also be found hunting pheasants, geese and deer.

Ervin enjoyed going out to eat, taking the grandsons to the Sisseton Sale Barn and making donuts, cakes and cookies. He was always proud of his garden produce.

Survivors include his sons, Verney (Diane) Klemm of Alexandria, MN, and Dareld (Karen) Klemm of Wheaton; grandchildren, Matthew Klemm of Farwell, MN, Jessica (Scott) Balog of Starbuck, MN, Kayla Klemm of Newport, MN, Kelly (Erin) Klemm of Wheaton, and Gavin Klemm of Fargo, ND; and "Papa Ervin's" great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Carrie Balog and Porter, Griffin and Hayden Klemm.

Ervin was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; grandson, Christopher; parents, Herman and Clara; in-laws, John and Ida Boehmlehner; and siblings, Leroy, Robert, Mervin, and Roman Klemm, and Bernice Bartz.