Marvin J. Kleven

Marvin J. Kleven, age 79 of rural Walnut Grove, passed away Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Westbrook Good Samaritan Society.  Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Walnut Grove with a livestream on St. Olaf Lutheran Church’s Facebook page.  Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, June 27 at the church with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.  Interment will be in the St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery.  

Marvin J. Kleven was born June 5, 1943 to Henry and Gladys (Kaas) Kleven, at home, in Ann Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Walnut Grove.  In 1961, Marvin graduated from Walnut Grove High School and began his lifelong career in farming with his dad, Henry and his brother, Roger.  He served in the South Dakota Air National Guard from April 1964 – April 1970, training in Texas and Colorado.  On August 18, 1973, he married Elizabeth “Beth” Jensen, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.  Marvin enjoyed being very involved in his community.  He was a member of the Shetek Lutheran Bible Camp board and St. Olaf Lutheran Church.  At the church, he held many titles such as president, treasurer, custodian and cemetery board member.  Marvin was a long time member of the American Legion Francis Harnack Post #582 in Revere.  He was also involved in the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, where he was a lighting director and committee member.  Marvin was a school board member of both the Walnut Grove School and later the Westbrook-Walnut Grove School.  He was also a bus driver, and the kids loved him.  Children were the light of his life, especially his grandchildren.  Marvin loved to go bowling, play softball and play cards.

Marvin is survived by his wife Beth; children: Jim (Carrie) of Walnut Grove, Andy (Staci) of Slayton and Erika (Ken) Coudron of Walnut Grove; grandchildren: Matt, Jake, Sam, Dan, Alex, Nate and Lilly; siblings: Roger (Linda) of Walnut Grove and Marilyn Sanner of Buffalo; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Gilmore.