Major Marvin E. Kleppe, Retired KSANG, 83, of rural Leona, died Tuesday evening, March 31, 2015, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, MO.
 
Marvin was born on the family farm near Leona, March 31, 1932, one of two sons of Melvin and Alma Benfer Kleppe and has lived near Leona nearly all of his life. He attended Star School House country school prior to graduating from Leona High School with the class of 1950. He attended Highland Junior College for a year before joining the US Air Force where he served a short time. He soon joined the 2nd BN, 130th FA, Kansas Army National Guard during the Korean Conflict, with the local unit deployed to serve during the Vietnam War. Marvin retired as a major with twenty-one years of service; receiving the Bronze Star. While with the National Guard, he farmed and raised livestock on the family farm near Leona, worked for a time at Flair Fold Wood Shutter Plant in Hiawatha; and Keim Transportation for 17 years before retiring.
 
Marvin served as commander of Horton, Troy, Paola, Hiawatha, and Ottawa National Guard Units for a number of years. He was a member of the Atchison VFW Post #1175; the American Legion Post #6, Atchison; MOAA (Military Officers Association of America); and was dedicated to attending the luncheons for the past officers through the years. He also was inducted into United States Field Artillery Association Honorable Order of St. Barbara.
 
He was a member of Bellevue United Methodist Church of Leona. He was very involved with his community as well: served on the Atchison County Farmers Cooperative; the Rainbow Telephone Board; and Masonic Lodge at Denton.
 
He married Janice Shaw, March 31, 1984, at the Bellevue Church. She survives.

Also surviving are a son Maurice (Deborah) Kleppe of Agency, MO; two daughters: Marlene Mullen (Garry Leer) of St. Joseph, MO, Tereta (Peanut) Massey of Robinson; a brother Duane (Loleta) Kleppe of Broken Arrow, OK; son in law Rick Skruch of Albany, MO; step-children: Donald Law of Moorehead, KY, Linda (Tim) Rothenbach of South Elgin, IL, David Law of Morehead, KY, Alisa Browning of Whiting, KS, Denise (Chris) McIntyre of Mt. Grove, MO; 36 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren.
 
Funeral services are planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Bellevue United Methodist Church of Leona, with Pastor Jerry Petering officiating. Interment will military honors will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leona.
 
Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Highland after 10 a.m. Friday where the family will meet from 6 until 8 that evening.
 
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Wounded Warriors Project or the Bellevue Methodist Church, which may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 33, 66035