Sam A. Kleinsasser, 84, Chaseley, was called home Thursday, August 30, 2018 at his home surrounded by family.

Sam Arthur Kleinsasser, son of Andrew J. M. and Lydia (Wollmann) Kleinsasser, was born August 30, 1934 at Chaseley, the 8 ^th child of this union. He attended Eddy School #3 a mile north of the family farm. Sam began working on the family dairy farm at a young age and, after the death of his father, accepted more responsibilities along with his siblings to help their mother run the farm.

Sam continued to care for his mother on the farm until she passed away. It was then that his sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Glenn Pueppke, together with Pastor Adey, took it upon themselves to find a wife for Sam. Pastor Adey knew a young lady in Missoula, MT and soon she and Sam were writing letters back and forth. Because Sam wanted to make a great impression on this young lady, he asked his sister-in-law, Norma Kleinsasser, to help write the letters. They began writing in April and by July they were going to meet in person. Jeanne E. Thuney, made plans to attend camp meeting and while there they kept time under the observant eyes of Dave and Barbara Wollmann. While she was in North Dakota, Sam proposed to Jeanne and they were married on October 16, 1971 at the Church of God in Bowdon. Over the next two years, two daughters would be born to them, Lydia and Marjorie.

Sam continued operating his dairy farm and was well known for his love of horses and using them for his winters work. He and his horses pulled many a stranded motorist out of the ditch. His daughters can still hear him say, "If I was only 30 years younger I would get myself another team". He stopped milking in 1999 as a birthday gift to himself and besides, he said, the cows were getting mean. Sam enjoyed farming and continued until retiring in 2003.

Sam attended the Bowdon Church of God for many years and shared special music there. He began singing when he was younger and continued as long a God allowed him to. He passed this love of music onto his girls and later to his grandchildren. Sam and his daughters enjoyed singing together and often would share their harmony as a trio on different occasions. They could be heard in the barn and living room singing the many hymns and songs they had memorized. This legacy lives on in his grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughters, Lydia R. Gessele of Chaseley and Marjorie Kleinsasser of Fessenden; 3 grandchildren, Michaela, Cheyenne and Samuel Gessele; 2 step-grandchildren, Taylin (Natalie) Gessele and Sebastian Gessele; brother, Eli (Nancy) Kleinsasser of Milwaukee, OR; brother-in-law, Glenn Pueppke of Erie, ND; sister-in-law, Norma Kleinsasser of Tuttle; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Sam was preceded in death by his wife Jeanne E. Kleinsasser who passed away September 26, 1995; his parents; brothers, Edwin, David, infant Sam, Paul, John, Andrew and Matthias; and sisters, Anna, Kate, Mary, Lydia, Dora, Edna and Ruth.

The Lord called to Sam and said, "Well done my good and faithful servant, it is time to come home".

Funeral: Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at 10:30 A. M. at the Bowdon Auditorium in Bowdon.

Burial: Hope Mennonite Cemetery of rural Chaseley.

Visitation: Friday from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Nelson Funeral Home in Fessenden.

Online condolences may be shared at nelsonfuneralhomesd.com