Edward L. "Eddie" Klein, 70, Sturgis, died Sunday, July 3, 2011, at Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be Thursday from noon to 5:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

A vigil will be held Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, July 8, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Sturgis Veteran's Honor Guard.

Eddie was born on the family farm November 27, 1940, near Newell, SD, to Joseph and Lena (Werlinger) Klein. He graduated from Newell High School. Eddie was drafted and served in the US Army from 1963 until his honorable discharge in 1965. He returned to Newell where he worked at a local filling station.

Eddie married Virginia Castonguay in Spearfish on January 29, 1966. He worked as a Delivery Milkman for Brown Swiss Dairy. They moved to Sturgis and Eddie continued the milk route. Eddie worked as the manager of the Sturgis Vet's Club. He worked at Jacobsen Ford from 1976 until 1990. Later, Eddie worked at the Meade County Courthouse in the maintenance and custodial department. He retired in 2003.

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and was an Honorary 4th Degree, Columban Council 6341 Knights of Columbus. Eddie was also a member of the Fount of Misinformation coffee club at McDonalds.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Klein, Sturgis; four sons, Jerome (Ann) Klein, Gillette, WY, Philip (Lurlene) Klein, Sioux Falls, SD, Eugene (Amy) Klein, Parker, CO, and Patrick (Crystal) Klein, Sioux Falls; three brothers, Mike Klein, Vancouver, WA, Allen Klein, Temple, OK, and Casmier (Rose) Klein, Bismarck, ND; three sisters, Cecelia Keller, Spearfish, Mary (John) Erk, Newell, and Regina McCoy, Browerville, MN; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Valentine and Andy.

A memorial has been established to the restoration of the St. Martin's Chapel in Sturgis.

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