Lambert Kleene

Lambert Kleene, age 85, of Willmar, Minnesota and formerly of rural Clara City, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2023 at the St. Cloud Hospital.
A Funeral Service will be Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Bunde Christian Reformed Church in Bunde. Interment will follow the luncheon at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Clara City.
Visitation will be held Tuesday from 10:00-11:00 AM, one hour prior to the service at the church.
Lambert William Kleene was born on December 10, 1937, in Montevideo, Minnesota, the son of Siebolt and Freida (Hilbrands) Kleene. Lambert grew up on a farm in the Clara City area and graduated from Clara City Public High School in 1955. As a hardworking young man, Lambert found employment working for area farmers, corn shelling and working for Duininck Bros. On August 7, 1958, Lambert was united in marriage to Lois Brouwer. To this union two girls joined the family, Twyla Jean and Judith Lynnette. The couple was able to move to a farm near Gluek, Minnesota. Lambert enjoyed an unbelievable blessing with 33 years of farming with his cousin, Earl and a total of 45 years farming with Lois by his side. He strove to have good farming practices and inherited the gift of repairing and rebuilding machinery from his father. Lambert also began working part-time as a gravedigger. He eventually became sole owner and spent 33 years working with area funeral homes.
Lambert's enjoyments in life included spending time in his shop, taking drives in the countryside, rodeos, day road trips, listening to polka and quartet music and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. After 55 years, he and Lois moved off the family farm in 2013 when his health required him to be closer to medical care in Montevideo and Willmar. Lambert spent over 10 years on dialysis. While in Montevideo, Lambert and Lois worshiped with the Cornerstone Baptist Church and were greatly blessed with the fellowship there.
Lambert is survived by his loving wife, Lois Kleene of Willmar; daughters, Twyla and Brad Dirksen of Maynard, MN; and Judy and Randy Hilbelink of Orange City, IA; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Mitch and Emily Dirksen (Jaden and Graysen), Lynnelle and Mike Giddings (Jesiah), Glenn and Matti Dirksen (Stella and Mobridge), Mark and Catie Hilbelink (Mason and Cassidy), Craig and Paula Hilbelink, Kerri and Andrew Wagenaar (Remington); sister, Arlene (Elmer) Hansen of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-law, Mae Ryks of Willmar; brother-in-law, Stanley (Harriet) Brouwer of Byron Center, MI; as well as other relatives and friends.
Lambert is preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Arend and Minnie Brouwer; sister, Doris Halverson; a stepfather and 3 step brothers.