Walter “Klink” Kleinschmidt, 88, of Langdon, ND, died in his home December 5, 2007.
Kleinschmidt was raised in rural Calio, ND and moved to Langdon in the 1930’s. He entered the army in 1942 and spent a year in infantry training in Camp Barkley, Abilene, TX. While on furlough in January of 1944, he married Juletta Hoffarth of Mt. Carmel, ND. They had a brief five weeks together before Kleinschmidt was shipped overseas. He landed on Omaha Beach as part of Service Company, 358th Infantry Regiment. Kleinschmidt served in Europe until the war ended and came home in October of 1945. Hit by shrapnel twice, he earned a Purple Heart. After the war, Kleinschmidt operated bulk fuel businesses in Dresden and Cando, ND. He also worked for Christie Motors in Langdon and in 1952 bought the Standard Oil Station on Main Street in Langdon. He went on to build Klink’s Standard Service with tire sales and service near the junctions of Highways 1 &5. The station became known as Klink and Norb’s Tire Service. Kleinschmidt purchased farmland in the Nekoma area in 1960 and also raised Registered Aberdeen Angus cattle. He gradually shifted to fulltime farmer and cattleman. Kleinschmidt retired from farming and the cattle business in 2001. He served many years as a City Commissioner and on the Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Eagles, VFW, American Legion and as clerk of the Last Man’s Company of World War II. He will always be remembered as “Klink”, a man who loved his family, his community, his country and farming.
He is survived by his wife, Juletta of Langdon, five children: Carol Larson of Waynesville, NC; Mike (Jan) of Grand Forks, ND; Mary Schneider/Franklund (Rodney) of Thompson, ND; Linda (Martin) Faulhaber of Sedalia, MO; and Julie Harding of Eugene, OR, 12 grandchildren: David Larson of Lakeland, CO; Daren Larson of Naples, FL; Jame and Tami Kleinschmidt both of San Diego, CA; Sara Kleinschmidt of St. Paul, MN; Becky Franklund of Williston, ND; Lori (Thompson) of Grand Forks, ND; Marcie Franklund of Fargo; Debbie Franklund, Thompson; Carol Rose Faulhaber, Ames, Iowa; Tim Harding, Corvallis, OR; and Megan Harding, Eugene, OR. Sisters, Frances Dittrick of Milwaulkee, WI and Rose Kingzett of Fargo.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Margaret (Spillman) Kleinschmidt; brothers Claude and Clarence and infant Alfre, sisters, Alvina Greening and Eleanor who died as a child.
Prayer Service 6pm Friday evening at the St. Alphonsus Church with visitation beginning at 5pm. Visitation will also take place for one hour before the time of the services at the church on Saturday.
SERVICES Saturday December 8, 2007 at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Langdon at 10:30am.
