Walvin Klein, age 94, of Lemmon, SD, passed away at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD, on Friday, April 23, 2021.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m.  Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.  Burial will follow in the Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon.

Walvin was born to John and Rose (Kessler) Klein on August 18, 1926, in Long Lake, SD.  The Klein's had five children, four girls and one boy, Walvin, was the youngest.  At a young age, his family moved to Baker, MT, and later to Plevna, MT, where his father farmed.  Walvin started school in Baker, MT, but most of his schooling was in Plevna. Walvin loved playing all sports.

In 1942 the Klein family moved to a farm 15 miles northwest of Lemmon, SD.  He attended Hettinger High School.  During his freshman year he lettered on the first year of his time on the varsity basketball team.

Farmers by nature, the Klein's raised cattle, chickens, turkeys and grew grain.  In 1944 World War II was on.  Walvin wanted to enlist but the government decided they needed farmers, too.

In 1959 his parents moved to Lemmon, SD.  Walvin had cattle shares and worked construction and farming jobs.  In 1961-1962 Walvin and his father took care of the Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.  Walvin did this for 30 seasons and retired in 1994, gladly helping his sister, Wilma, until she passed.  He entered the Five Counties Nursing Home in July 2019 where he resided until his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters, Elsie Klein, Wilma Gunderson, Irene (Klukas) Purden and one in infancy; and a nephew, Leroy Klukas.

He is survived by one nephew, Howard Gunderson; three nieces, Mardella (Klukas) Smith, Loretta (Gunderson) Schmidt, and Darlene (Gunderson) Wolf; four great-nephews, four great-nieces; and numerous great-great and great-great-great nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD.