Leverne H. Klemme, 87, of Akron passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, at Akron Care Center in Akron.
Leverne Harold Klemme was born Sept. 22, 1920, on the family farm near Nora, S.D., the son of Emil and Anna (Lykken) Klemme. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. He attended Nora Country School and later, Pleasant Hill Country School. He attended high school in Elk Point and graduated from Elk Point High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 30, 1943. He served our country during World War II as an instructor pilot for B-24s and B-32s at Tarrant Field in Fort Worth, Texas.
While stationed in Texas, he was united in marriage to LaVonne Hornstein on May 6, 1944. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 20, 1946. Following his discharge, they returned to Union County, S.D., and farmed near Spink.
On May 2, 1951, Leverne was called back to service. He was an aircraft commander for B-29s stationed in San Antonio, Texas. He and his crew of 10 men were assigned to Yakota Air Force base in Tokyo, Japan. He and his bombing crew flew 35 missions over Korea, seven of which were as a lead bomber. Together, he and his crew flew more than 300 combat hours in Korea. On Feb. 1, 1953, he was honorably discharged as a captain. For his service to our country, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Air Medal with one Cluster.
After returning from the Korean Conflict, he and LaVonne farmed near Union Creek, S.D., for 12 years. Later, they moved to the family farm of his parents near Spink, S.D. He and LaVonne farmed there for more than 33 years. In 1999, they moved to their home in Akron.
Leverne was very active in church and community works. He was a longtime member of Brule Creek Lutheran Church, where he served on church council and was past church treasurer and council president. He was president of the Brule Creek Cemetery Board. He was a 50-year member of the Hoschler American Legion Post 186 in Akron, where he was past commander and post historian. He also served as chairman of the School Board for Union County, S.D. District 33. He served as president of the Cattle Feeder Association and served on the Union County Extension Board. He was past president of the Union County Farm Bureau and former vice president for the state of South Dakota Farm Bureau. He was a member of the Akron Lion's Club.
Leverne enjoyed reading books about the Civil War era. He was very proud of his service to his country. He wrote and published a book about his military history during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed assembling and collecting models of the planes that he flew during his military service. He also enjoyed listening to big band music from the '40's and photography. But most all he enjoyed the times spent with his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife of more than 63 years, LaVonne of Akron; a son, Glen Klemme and his wife, Vicki of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a daughter, Donna Swanson and her husband, Verdell of Alcester, S.D.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, LuIda Abrahamson of Akron and Marjorie Flados of Harlingen, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Agnes Kinsley; and a daughter-in-law, Donna Rae Klemme.
Leverne Harold Klemme was born Sept. 22, 1920, on the family farm near Nora, S.D., the son of Emil and Anna (Lykken) Klemme. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. He attended Nora Country School and later, Pleasant Hill Country School. He attended high school in Elk Point and graduated from Elk Point High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 30, 1943. He served our country during World War II as an instructor pilot for B-24s and B-32s at Tarrant Field in Fort Worth, Texas.
While stationed in Texas, he was united in marriage to LaVonne Hornstein on May 6, 1944. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 20, 1946. Following his discharge, they returned to Union County, S.D., and farmed near Spink.
On May 2, 1951, Leverne was called back to service. He was an aircraft commander for B-29s stationed in San Antonio, Texas. He and his crew of 10 men were assigned to Yakota Air Force base in Tokyo, Japan. He and his bombing crew flew 35 missions over Korea, seven of which were as a lead bomber. Together, he and his crew flew more than 300 combat hours in Korea. On Feb. 1, 1953, he was honorably discharged as a captain. For his service to our country, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Air Medal with one Cluster.
After returning from the Korean Conflict, he and LaVonne farmed near Union Creek, S.D., for 12 years. Later, they moved to the family farm of his parents near Spink, S.D. He and LaVonne farmed there for more than 33 years. In 1999, they moved to their home in Akron.
Leverne was very active in church and community works. He was a longtime member of Brule Creek Lutheran Church, where he served on church council and was past church treasurer and council president. He was president of the Brule Creek Cemetery Board. He was a 50-year member of the Hoschler American Legion Post 186 in Akron, where he was past commander and post historian. He also served as chairman of the School Board for Union County, S.D. District 33. He served as president of the Cattle Feeder Association and served on the Union County Extension Board. He was past president of the Union County Farm Bureau and former vice president for the state of South Dakota Farm Bureau. He was a member of the Akron Lion's Club.
Leverne enjoyed reading books about the Civil War era. He was very proud of his service to his country. He wrote and published a book about his military history during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed assembling and collecting models of the planes that he flew during his military service. He also enjoyed listening to big band music from the '40's and photography. But most all he enjoyed the times spent with his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife of more than 63 years, LaVonne of Akron; a son, Glen Klemme and his wife, Vicki of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a daughter, Donna Swanson and her husband, Verdell of Alcester, S.D.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, LuIda Abrahamson of Akron and Marjorie Flados of Harlingen, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Agnes Kinsley; and a daughter-in-law, Donna Rae Klemme.
Leverne H. Klemme, 87, of Akron passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, at Akron Care Center in Akron.
Leverne Harold Klemme was born Sept. 22, 1920, on the family farm near Nora, S.D., the son of Emil and Anna (Lykken) Klemme. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. He attended Nora Country School and later, Pleasant Hill Country School. He attended high school in Elk Point and graduated from Elk Point High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 30, 1943. He served our country during World War II as an instructor pilot for B-24s and B-32s at Tarrant Field in Fort Worth, Texas.
While stationed in Texas, he was united in marriage to LaVonne Hornstein on May 6, 1944. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 20, 1946. Following his discharge, they returned to Union County, S.D., and farmed near Spink.
On May 2, 1951, Leverne was called back to service. He was an aircraft commander for B-29s stationed in San Antonio, Texas. He and his crew of 10 men were assigned to Yakota Air Force base in Tokyo, Japan. He and his bombing crew flew 35 missions over Korea, seven of which were as a lead bomber. Together, he and his crew flew more than 300 combat hours in Korea. On Feb. 1, 1953, he was honorably discharged as a captain. For his service to our country, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Air Medal with one Cluster.
After returning from the Korean Conflict, he and LaVonne farmed near Union Creek, S.D., for 12 years. Later, they moved to the family farm of his parents near Spink, S.D. He and LaVonne farmed there for more than 33 years. In 1999, they moved to their home in Akron.
Leverne was very active in church and community works. He was a longtime member of Brule Creek Lutheran Church, where he served on church council and was past church treasurer and council president. He was president of the Brule Creek Cemetery Board. He was a 50-year member of the Hoschler American Legion Post 186 in Akron, where he was past commander and post historian. He also served as chairman of the School Board for Union County, S.D. District 33. He served as president of the Cattle Feeder Association and served on the Union County Extension Board. He was past president of the Union County Farm Bureau and former vice president for the state of South Dakota Farm Bureau. He was a member of the Akron Lion's Club.
Leverne enjoyed reading books about the Civil War era. He was very proud of his service to his country. He wrote and published a book about his military history during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed assembling and collecting models of the planes that he flew during his military service. He also enjoyed listening to big band music from the '40's and photography. But most all he enjoyed the times spent with his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife of more than 63 years, LaVonne of Akron; a son, Glen Klemme and his wife, Vicki of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a daughter, Donna Swanson and her husband, Verdell of Alcester, S.D.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, LuIda Abrahamson of Akron and Marjorie Flados of Harlingen, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Agnes Kinsley; and a daughter-in-law, Donna Rae Klemme.
Leverne Harold Klemme was born Sept. 22, 1920, on the family farm near Nora, S.D., the son of Emil and Anna (Lykken) Klemme. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. He attended Nora Country School and later, Pleasant Hill Country School. He attended high school in Elk Point and graduated from Elk Point High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 30, 1943. He served our country during World War II as an instructor pilot for B-24s and B-32s at Tarrant Field in Fort Worth, Texas.
While stationed in Texas, he was united in marriage to LaVonne Hornstein on May 6, 1944. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 20, 1946. Following his discharge, they returned to Union County, S.D., and farmed near Spink.
On May 2, 1951, Leverne was called back to service. He was an aircraft commander for B-29s stationed in San Antonio, Texas. He and his crew of 10 men were assigned to Yakota Air Force base in Tokyo, Japan. He and his bombing crew flew 35 missions over Korea, seven of which were as a lead bomber. Together, he and his crew flew more than 300 combat hours in Korea. On Feb. 1, 1953, he was honorably discharged as a captain. For his service to our country, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Air Medal with one Cluster.
After returning from the Korean Conflict, he and LaVonne farmed near Union Creek, S.D., for 12 years. Later, they moved to the family farm of his parents near Spink, S.D. He and LaVonne farmed there for more than 33 years. In 1999, they moved to their home in Akron.
Leverne was very active in church and community works. He was a longtime member of Brule Creek Lutheran Church, where he served on church council and was past church treasurer and council president. He was president of the Brule Creek Cemetery Board. He was a 50-year member of the Hoschler American Legion Post 186 in Akron, where he was past commander and post historian. He also served as chairman of the School Board for Union County, S.D. District 33. He served as president of the Cattle Feeder Association and served on the Union County Extension Board. He was past president of the Union County Farm Bureau and former vice president for the state of South Dakota Farm Bureau. He was a member of the Akron Lion's Club.
Leverne enjoyed reading books about the Civil War era. He was very proud of his service to his country. He wrote and published a book about his military history during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed assembling and collecting models of the planes that he flew during his military service. He also enjoyed listening to big band music from the '40's and photography. But most all he enjoyed the times spent with his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife of more than 63 years, LaVonne of Akron; a son, Glen Klemme and his wife, Vicki of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a daughter, Donna Swanson and her husband, Verdell of Alcester, S.D.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, LuIda Abrahamson of Akron and Marjorie Flados of Harlingen, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Agnes Kinsley; and a daughter-in-law, Donna Rae Klemme.
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Married: May 6, 1944
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