LeRoy Klaus

LeRoy Klaus, 80, Bismarck, died May 14, 2004, at a Bismarck hospital. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 10:30 AM at Faith Lutheran Church in Bismarck. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM and Monday from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. LeRoy Herbert Klaus was born on March 4, 1924, at Zap, North Dakota, the son of Reinhold and Teoleda Buechler Klaus. He was baptized and confirmed and his faith and church were always an important part of his life. He attended schools in Zap and participated in a winning basketball team during his high school years. He loved sports and played on baseball and softball teams usually serving in the position of catcher. He was an avid Yankee fan. After high school he worked for a time in the Zap underground coal mines and he often spoke of also going to the mine as a child with his Dad on Saturdays to help load coal by hand because the extra coal he helped with meant a little extra pay. He and his family knew all about the song Tennessee Ernie Ford sang "I owe my soul to the company store". In June of 1946, he married Inez Hafner at Kronthal Church north of Beulah. They moved to Hazen where he was employed at the Kitchen Bar and later on a part-owner of the Gamble Store. In 1960, they moved to Bismarck with their two children, both having been born during their stay in Hazen. LeRoy worked for a time at the Gamble Store and then was employed for many years at Vantine Paint and Glass as a glazier. He was instrumental in organizing the workers there and served for many years as their union representative. He was a staunch Democrat and believed very strongly that a worker was entitled to a fair wage. He retired in 1986. He loved camping and many weekends were spent camping at Lake Sakakawea with family and friends. LeRoy also loved hunting and he and his brother, Al, and friends spent many happy times hunting in the Badlands. LeRoy was an outgoing person and no one remained a stranger for long. His family was important to him and he was always ready to give his support and help when needed. He is survived by his wife, Inez; his daughter Candace and her husband, Jerry Eldridge of Bismarck; his son, Curtis Klaus of San Francisco, California; three grandchildren, Josh, Codie, and Courtney Eldridge; two great-granddaughters, Lexi and Brooke Eldridge, all of Bismarck; one brother and sister-in-law, Alvin and Lois Klaus of Bismarck; two sisters, Delora Nathan of Mesa, Arizona, and Mardella Aanderud of Beulah; one sister-in-law, Lois Marie Klaus of Florida; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Paul and Sylvia Hafner, Lee and Diana Hafner, and Verona Halter all of Billings, Montana, Larry and Naomi Foos of Laurel, Montana, and Oneata Hafner of Red Bluff, California; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother, Calvin; and his brothers-in-law, Jack Nathan and Richard Aanderud. The family prefers memorials to Cystic Fibrosis Association of North Dakota in Codie Eldridge's name, Medcenter One Hospice, or Faith Lutheran Church.

LeRoy Klaus

March 4, 1923 - May 14, 2004