Courtney Kleven “Corky,” 75, of Red Lake Falls, MN, passed away suddenly on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2023, at his Lake Sarah home in rural Erskine, MN.
Courtney Craig Kleven was born April 21, 1948, in Grand Forks, ND, the son of Charles Melvin and Lucille Ellen (Solberg) Kleven. He attended Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls, graduating with the class of 1966. He played both hockey and trombone in high school and continued trombone through college.
Corky was Red Lake County’s first Eagle Scout recipient. He continued his education, graduating from the University of Minnesota, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, and continued his education, earning a Master’s Degree in Engineering in 1977 from the University of Washington.
On May 5, 1973, he married Kathy Ilene Ford at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN where he began the most important thing in his life: his family. He had two sons, Michael and Jonathan, and a daughter, Wendy. He lived out his retirement days enjoying time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Aside from being a devoted family man, Corky took great pride in his career. Through 24 years of service with the United States Navy, he faithfully served his country and retired at the rank of Captain (O-6). His services included many different duty assignments both domestically and foreign.
These duty assignments included Newport – RI, Port Hueneme – CA, US Naval Academy in Annapolis – MD, Bremerton – WA, Mercury – NV, Norfolk – VA, Virginia Beach – VA, Gulfport – MS, Charleston – SC, and Long Beach – CA. He carried the most pride for his time serving as the Commanding Officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion #62 (NMBC 62) while deployed overseas, where he commanded 600+ Navy Seabees providing security force response and performing construction support to Navy installations in Sicily, Crete, Italy, Greece, Egypt and the Republic of the Philippines.
Corky and Kathy returned to live in their hometown, Red Lake Falls, and from 2001-2018, Corky served as the Red Lake County Engineer. As the Red Lake County Highway engineer, Corky oversaw the rebuilding of county road 13, including the replacement of the Red Lake River bridge from Red Lake Falls to Dorothy, the replacement of curb gutter and paving projects in Oklee, Plummer, and Red Lake Falls, and secured funding for safety lighting on rural paved intersections. Corky obtained private funding for the Clearwater River access project from Oklee through Terrebonne to Red Lake Falls and was instrumental in the creation of the Red Lake River Corridor.
He enjoyed watching wildlife (deer, ducks, loons) “bambi runs,” pontooning, tinkering in his garage, “putzing around,” pranking, and spending time with family.
Survivors include his loving wife, Kathy; children, Michael (Nina) Kleven, Jonathan (Jill) Kleven, and Wendy (Adam) Tellez; 7 grandchildren, Luke Kleven, Lucy Kleven, Jane Kleven, Cru Tellez, Byrdie Tellez, Charlie Kleven, and Owen Kleven; brothers, Scott (Julie) Kleven and John (Mary) Kleven; and many other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, Alfred and Clara Kleven, and Elmer and Mable Solberg.
The service to celebrate Corky’s life will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN, with Rev. Jonathan Dodson officiating. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Military Honors will be provided by the Red Lake Falls American Legion Post 22 and United States Navy Honor Guard. Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery, in rural Red Lake Falls, MN.
There will be a visitation from 5 PM to 7 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN.
