Loyal Klassen

Loyal Klassen age 91, of Mountain Lake, Minnesota died on September 29, 2024, at Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington, Minnesota. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel. Visitation will continue on Saturday, December 21, 2024, from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 11:00 am at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. The clergy will be Pastor Jack Scandrett. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Loyal was born November 30, 1932, to Abram P. and Elizabeth (Janzen) Klassen, the sixth child/son, in Mountain Lake, MN. He spent his early years on the farm of his parents and when he lost his father at age 14 it had a tremendous impact on his life. He attended country school through 6th grade and graduated from Mtn. Lake High School.  He attended, was baptized and joined the EMB church in Mtn. Lake. Loyal spent several years after high school helping on the family farm when Selective Service came calling. He registered as a conscientious objector to war but was not given that designation by the local board so he appealed to the state board and was given a hearing. He successfully defended his position and was given the 1W classification. Thereupon, he applied to Mennonite Central Committee and was accepted into the PAX program. Under the PAX program Loyal spent 2 1⁄2 years in Germany building housing for refugees of WW2 and also some time in Greece helping with agriculture projects. Following PAX, he joined Mennonite Voluntary Service, building a church in Holland. These service years were a pivotal time as his world view was greatly enlarged and influenced him the rest of his life. Loyal made many friends during this time who remained with him the rest of his life. The influence of this time pervaded his later life of service. He was a staunch supporter of Mennonite Disaster Service until the end and served as treasurer of the local MDS chapter. He served on various disaster projects including in Mexico, California, Mississippi and local/MN. He served on many boards at his church, Bethel Mennonite Church.

After PAX he returned to Mt Lake and was employed by Rempel Construction as a bricklayer. Loyal then attended college; first at Freeman Jr. College, then Bethel College in KS, finally graduating from Goshen College, IN with a degree in social work. He married Bertha Redekop on May 6, 1960, and they enjoyed married life for over 64 years. They settled on a acreage in rural Mt. Lake and farmed while raising their children; Loretta Renee, Brigham Christopher and Timothy Andre. Raising purebred Hampshire sheep was an early wish and continued through the farming years as he also helped the children with their projects/interests. This included Arabian horses, go-carts, 4-H, FFA, motorcycles, etc. Loyal was very family oriented and relished being a grandfather. Keeping track of the grandkids’ activities was always a joy to him and having one of them ride along on the tractor with him was a highlight.

Travel was a priority of his life and he shared that interest with his wife, Bertha. Together they explored over 70 countries. They undertook many study/learning tours including European Mennonite History and Ukraine. They visited and learned to appreciate various cultures, lifestyles and especially liked visiting his European friends from PAX. Travel provided a conduit for the practice of his lifelong interest in photography which he pursued avidly. Learning digital photography was a retirement project that he mastered.

Loyal leaves to mourn his wife of 64 years, Bertha Klassen; children, Loretta (Kevin) Krahn, Brigham (Lori) Klassen, Timothy (Heather) Klassen; 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers & 4 sisters-in-law.