Annie Klempel

ONLY ONE LIFE WILL SOON BE PAST

ONLY WHAT'S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST

Annie Evelyn Almond Klempel, 93, was born out in the hills off of Route #114 on the Johnson Place, which is 12 miles north of Savage, Mt; on June 4, 1924 to John and Carrie (Leivested) Almond. Annie was the 3rd child of eight children. Annie had two brothers and five sisters. When Annie was five years old her family moved down into the Yellowstone Valley. They lived on a farm near Annie’s maternal grandparents and five uncles. Annie received her education at the Midway and Savage schools.

They were a family that loved to sing. Even when they were thinning sugar beets or shelling peas they were singing. They had an Almond trio. Annie’s brother, John sang tenor, her sister, Mary sang soprano and Annie sang alto. Annie was a contralto singer. They sang at different churches, school functions, funerals, and weddings.

Annie was saved on January 25, 1939. The preacher, Blythe McLean, was preaching that night on Acts 26:28 — Almost thou persuaded me to become a Christian; almost but lost!! Annie did not want to be lost so that night She gave her heart and life to Jesus Christ.

In the winter of 1942, Annie  attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Sandpoint, Idaho for 10 weeks with her uncle, George Leivestad. At the school they had a mixed quartet; Pastor Haakonson sang tenor, Ruby Fladstol sang soprano, Annie  sang alto and George sang base. They  sang at different churches and youth conferences in the Sandpoint and Spokane area on the weekends and after school. That was the happiest time of Annie’s life; learning about the Bible and getting to know her Saviour.

On April 25, 1943, Annie married Joseph Klempel Jr. in Sidney, Montana. They moved to the Flathead Valley in 1947 and have been living on the farm in Bigfork for over 50 years. They had 6 daughters, Pat Burnham, Doris Rost, Edith Benson, Naomi Oldfield, Cathy Benson and Delia May (DeeDee) Klempel; 3 sons, Joseph III, Ronald, and Richard; 21 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 1 great great-grandchild.

Annie was preceded in death by her husband, Joie; her daughter, DeeDee;  parents, John and Carrie Almond;  brothers, John and Roy; and  sisters, Mary Pust, Edith Damm, Harriet Damm and Ida Larson.  Annie is survived by her children and their families; her sister, Florence Dvorak and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday March 23, 2018 at the Little Brown Church with burial to follow at Lonepine Cemetery in Bigfork, Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.