Sylvester Klassen

S.J. "Whitey" Klassen, 86, long-time proprietor of Spirit Lake Resort in Vergas, Minnesota, died on December 24, 2015, at the Ecumen- Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes. Funeral Mass for Whitey will be held Tuesday, December 29 at 1PM in Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Detroit Lakes. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to Mass. Interment will be held in Lake Sybil Cemetery, rural Vergas, MN. Friends and family are invited to a reception at Spirit Lake Resort at the conclusion of the interment. Whitey was born on September 3, 1929, in Fargo. He grew up in rural western Minnesota, and dropped out of high school at age 16 to go to work at the Fargo Foundry to help support his family. Drafted into the Army during the conflict in Korea, he went to basic training in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and was stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. His wife Mary Margaret Juen, whom he married on September 19, 1951, accompanied him on his Alaskan adventure. At the encouragement of a commanding officer, Whitey obtained his GED and attended North Dakota State University, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1957. He then embarked on a career with the Iowa Highway Commission (later the Iowa Department of Transportation), and served at postings in Britt, Jefferson, and Ames. He later became the County and City Engineer in Burlington, Iowa, retiring in 1994. Whitey and Mary established Spirit Lake Resort near Vergas in 1954. Along with Mary's parents John and Grace Juen, Whitey and Mary played host to generations of families who enjoyed fishing, boating, swimming, and fellowship on the shores of East Spirit Lake in Otter Tail County. The resort recently marked its 62nd year in business. Whitey is survived by his two children: John (Stephanie Kroger) of Midland, Texas, and Julie (Scott) Bussen, of Shorewood, Wisconsin, five grandchildren: Katherine and Mary Margaret Klassen; and Jonathan, Benjamin, and Christopher Bussen. He is also survived by his siblings: Raymond of St. George, Utah; Victor of Fargo; Rita Lineburg of Ramsey, MN; and Tom of Shakopee, MN. Whitey also leaves behind his special friend and companion, Sonya Lebus of Detroit Lakes. He is preceded in death by his parents: John Klassen and Ann Klassen, his beloved wife Mary and infant brother, Francis.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Service
Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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