Annie Evelyn Almond Klempel, 93
“Only one life will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” — C.T. Studd
Annie Evelyn Almond Klempel, 93, was born out in the hills off of Route No. 114 on the Johnson place, which is 12 miles north of Savage, Montana, on June 4, 1924, to John and Carrie (Leivested) Almond. Annie was the third child of eight children. Annie had two brothers and five sisters. When Annie was 5 years old her family moved down into the Yellowstone Valley. They lived on a farm near Annie’s maternal grandparents and five uncles. Annie received her education at the Midway and Savage schools.
They were a family that loved to sing. Even when they were thinning sugar beets or shelling peas they were singing. They had an Almond trio. Annie’s brother, John, sang tenor, her sister, Mary, sang soprano and Annie sang alto. Annie was a contralto singer. They sang at different churches, school functions, funerals and weddings.
Annie was saved on Jan. 25, 1939. The preacher, Blythe McLean, was preaching that night on Acts 26:28 — “Almost thou persuaded me to become a Christian; almost but lost!” Annie did not want to be lost so that night she gave her heart and life to Jesus Christ.
In the winter of 1942, Annie attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Sandpoint, Idaho, for 10 weeks with her uncle, George Leivestad. At the school they had a mixed quartet; Pastor Haakonson sang tenor, Ruby Fladstol sang soprano, Annie sang alto and George sang base. They sang at different churches and youth conferences in the Sandpoint and Spokane area on the weekends and after school. That was the happiest time of Annie’s life — learning about the Bible and getting to know her Saviour.
On April 25, 1943, Annie married Joseph Klempel Jr. in Sidney, Montana. They moved to the Flathead Valley in 1947 and had lived on the farm in Bigfork for over 50 years. They had six daughters, Pat Burnham, Doris Rost, Edith Benson, Naomi Oldfield, Cathy Benson and Delia May “DeeDee” Klempel; three sons, Joseph III, Ronald, and Richard; 21 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild.
Annie was preceded in death by her husband, Joie; her daughter, DeeDee; parents, John and Carrie Almond; brothers, John and Roy; and sisters, Mary Pust, Edith Damm, Harriet Damm and Ida Larson. Annie is survived by her children and their families; her sister, Florence Dvorak; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday March 23, at the Little Brown Church with burial to follow at Lonepine Cemetery in Bigfork.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.