Jerry & Judy Klein Family

After graduating from high school, I attended St. Cloud State for one semester…then returned to the farm to work with my father.  I drove milk truck for Millerville Creamery from 1958 to 1961.  I worked with Roy Strom, driving gravel truck, school bus and cattle truck.  I bought my first truck in 1967, driving for Roy.  In 1968 Kenny Schjei took over the Strom Trucking business and I worked for him. 

 Soon after I started hauling groceries for Ludke and Company out of Alexandria, with a back haul of recycle paper and cardboard boxes for Huschke of Alex.  I continued hauling groceries until retirement in 2001, having several truckers hauling through me.  I continued the bookkeeping end of the business until the summer of 2012.

 

I married one of the Strom girls in September 1964 (I think Roy got a good deal but so did I).  We had children for three decades:  Jay in 1969, Jeremy in 1974, Joshua in 1980 and Jacob in 1982.  Weddings began in October 2003, and continued on to September 2004, February 2005 and October 2006.

Then the grandchildren came in groups:  January 10, March 28 & 30, 2006.  February 18 & 21 and April 14, 2008.  February 7 & June 16, 2010.  Eight grandchildren in 4-1/2 years.  They all live in the metro area and our travels are to and from their homes to care for them whenever needed. 

In 2004, I was asked to haul gravel and dirt for Brethorst Excavating of Brandon.  I witnessed the accidental death of our young boss on September 17, 2010 on the job site.  Later I worked for Mark Boesl of Millerville also hauling gravel and dirt locally, which I will continue to do as he needs an extra driver.

In the early 80’s I was instrumental in organizing softball leagues in Brandon.  We got some negative feedback in the local newspaper when we cut down a grove of trees to landscape four new softball fields.

I sang with the Gospel Messengers, also in the early 80’s, a group from our Chippewa Lutheran Church, started by Dave and Diann Thompson.  We sang in many churches in the area and we traveled some, mostly on Sunday’s for a morning or evening service. 

 

Duane Johnson, Jerry Klein, Diann & Dave

Thompson, Marcia Larson Bolin & David Klukken