David Klinger, age 88, of Mentor, MN, passed away on Sunday, April 22nd, at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, MN. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 28th, at Faith Lutheran Church in Mentor with the Rev. Michael Sletto officiating. Interment will be in Maple Bay Cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin Funeral Home of Erskine and messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinfuneral.com.
David Keith Klinger was born on January 10, 1930 in Crookston, Minnesota to parents Frank and Hilda Klinger. Following the death of his father, David and his mother moved to Fertile, Minnesota where he attended Fertile High School.
David entered the United States Army in January of 1951 and served in the Army infantry in Korea until he received his honorable discharge in August of 1952. He returned to Minnesota and worked for the railroad in the Twin Cities and in the Fertile area for a number of years, worked at Spring Gravel, and drove truck. He also held a private pilot’s license.
David was united in marriage to Florence Dulmage on July 12, 1958 in Fosston, Minnesota. They moved to Seattle, Washington in 1959 where their two daughters, Robin and Shirley, were born. While in Seattle, he worked as a baker for Langendorf Bakery. The family returned to Fertile in December of 1971. They lived in Fertile and McIntosh over the years and then in Mentor with their daughter, Robin. Together, David and Florence moved to Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile in September of 2017. Florence passed away there on January 16, 2018.
David received a Purple Heart for his valor and injuries he received in the Korean War. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger years and he liked to visit with family and friends. Most of all, he enjoyed the time that he spent with his family.
Survivors include two daughters, Robin (Jeff) Benson of Mentor, and Shirley (Roy) Lawson of Warren, MN; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Josh (Katie) Benson and their children, Caden and Brenna; Justin (Kristi) Benson and their children, Grant, Kora, and Brynlee; Jeremy (Ashley) Benson and their children, Riley and Skylar; Megan Evenson and her daughter, Florrie; and Isabelle Lawson. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence; his parents; and sister Delores (Ben) Johnson.
