Arvin M Kleppen

Arvin Monroe Kleppen, 86 of Missoula passed away Jan 16 2013 at Saint Patrick Hospital.
He was born Dec 19, 1926 in White Earth, ND to Anna J. (Ramnes) and Severt A. Kleppen. He grew up on the family farm near Plenty in central Saskatchewan. The family moved to Columbus ND in 1941 where Arvin survived by working on various farms. He joined the army in 1945 and spent most of his time serving in Korea as a Combat Engineer. Upon his return to ND he worked for the highway department and then coal mines operating most any type of heavy equipment. He married Bernice Volberg in Minot ND in 1952 and had four children before the marriage ended. He moved to Oilmont, MT in 1958 where he married Mildred Shortell. They moved to Ronan, MT where he worked at a dairy. Mildred passed away in 1970. He began work at a hotel in Polson where he met and later married Edna Wicker. Together they operated the Big Medicine Pizza Restaurant in Ronan until Edna passed away in 1987. He moved to Missoula and married Lavina Kittleson who passed away in 1989.
In addition to three of his wives he is preceded in death by three brothers Leonard, John and Arnold, his sister Kay and son Dean. He is survived by his brother Norman Kleppen, sister Mavis Gulleckson; children: Debbie and Marlin Gandrud, Patricia Eide, Pam and Leland Hoff; 11 grandchildren: Heather, Jasper, Jessica, Hope, Trever, Eric, Jeffery, Kasy, Ashley, Doran and Devin; and 16 great grandchildren.
After his last marriage he purchased 12 acres just outside of Missoula where he enjoyed many years tending to fruit trees and a garden, along with sharing many hours dancing and dining in the company of his dear friend Marie Chaffin and her family Walt and Kristine Wolf, Julie and Joe Mulligan, Mike and Nancy Wolf and Marie's grandchildren, Gabe, Rose, Robin, Rachael and Benjamin.
Service will be held at Garden City Funeral Home Tues Jan 22 at 10 AM. Reception to follow.

Read Arvin Kleppen's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.