F.J. "Bud" Kline

Kline, F.J. "Bud" Passed away peacefully at New River Nursing Home on April 23, 2012. Through 96 years, "Bud" Kline had a zest for life. He was a man with a gentle heart, great sense of humor and was a genuine friend to everyone who knew him. Bud gave generously to his church, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and to his community. Bud was born in December 21, 1915, in Pine River, Minnesota, to Herbert and Margaret Kline. In 1939 he married Leona Dahl, his loving wife of 69 years. Together they raised three sons and one daughter. Bud was a carpenter by trade. He enlisted in the Navy and was a part of the Seabees, a construction unit in the South Pacific. He managed a lumberyard in Albertville for several years before building one in St. Michael. After moving to Monticello in 1953, he opened the Monticello Cleaners, and after six years, sold the business, turning his skills and attention to construction and several other things. Over the years, Bud built six different homes for his family. He served on volunteer fire departments in Pine River, Albertville, St. Michael, and Monticello. When the Monticello- Big Lake Community Hospital opened in 1965, Bud was one of the first people hired. He was employed there as a maintenance engineer until his retirement in 1979. In recent years, when Bud would be a patient at the hospital, he was quick to tell the staff about his connection to the hospital. The staff appeared genuinely interested in his stories of the beginnings of the hospital. Bud and Leona enjoyed bowling, playing cards, and in retirement, they took up the game of golf. Bud loved to be on the golf course with his good buddies, enjoying a game of euchre after a round of golf. Bud and his cronies were known for pulling pranks on each other. Ask someone who knew Bud and there will be a story to be told. Bud was a past commander of the American Legion Post 260 and was proud of his participation for 61 consecutive years in Memorial Day parades. Bud will be remembered by his great-granddaughters for the cookies he loved to bake. He also was quick to share them with the nurses at St. Benedict's Community Center, "the girls" as he called them. Bud is survived by his children, Mary Ella (Mike) Trunnell of Elk River, Bruce of Paramount, CA, and Scott (Judith) of Norwood-Young America; six grandchildren, Kari (Nick) Sweeney, Katie (Matthew) Nohr, Megan (Matt) Goertz, Gregg Trunnell, Bradley (Catherine) Kline, and Tiffany Kline; five special great- granddaughters; and special nephews, Ted (Elaine) Farnam of Monticello and Keith (Agnes) Farnam of Pine River and their families. He was preceded in death by his wife, Leona, and son, Gregg. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m., Friday April 27 at St. Henry Catholic Church, 1001 East 7th St., Monticello. Visitation Thursday evening, 5 to 8 at the church and also one hour prior to the funeral on Friday, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Interment at St. Henry's Cemetery. Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel 763 295-2918

This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.