Daniel E. Klukken

Daniel E. Klukken, age 77, of Osakis, MN, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Salmons’ Place Senior Care near Alexandria, MN peacefully with Sue, Theresa, Jeff, and the loving staff surrounding him in the early morning.

A memorial Service for Dan and his sister, Marilyn will be held at Elim Lutheran Church in Osakis, MN with the Pastor Luke Kjolhaug officiating on Friday, April 26, 2024, 2:00 PM with a visitation from 1:00 - 2:00 PM at the church.  Following inurnment there will be a meal and fellowship at the church.   Family and friends may leave online condolences at www.royhetland.com

Dan was born October 19, 1946, in Alexandria, MN the last of five children and the only son of B. Elvin and Lillie (Dahl) Klukken of Osakis, MN.  While attending high school and after graduation, Osakis Class of 1964, he worked building houses, barns and churches with his dad, Elvin.  He spent a year attending Waldorf University and briefly Moorhead State University.  It was not for him, as farming was on his mind.  Eventually, he choose to come home and care for his own animals.

Dan met Sue while serving as best man for his friend, Lonnie Iverson, who married Sharon, Sue’s sister.   A connection was made, Dan suggesting that they just get married now, but the wedding occurred three years later.

Dan joined the National Guard and after completing Basic training, moved back to Osakis, continuing to date Sue, working at 3M and driving the school bus.  Dan was fortunate to get a kiss from Sue as she was dropped off at her home – Paradise Beach Resort on Osakis Lake.

November 8, 1969, he was united in marriage for 43 years to Susan K Brunton at the Osakis Lutheran Church, by his brother-in-law, Rev. Carmen Thronson.

In 1969, they bought Dan’s parents farm, home of Elvin and Lillie Klukken which was also Lillie’s homestead.

Dan and Sue worked together, always busy with the crop farming, dairy and beef cattle and drove a Semi-Tractor across the United States as a team.  While farming and driving he had multiple hired hands working for him and neighboring farmers to work with.  Building the original homestead up to where it was in its prime required a hard work and long hours – nothing comes without sacrifice and tears.   He always had a plan to make things more efficient and improve the livelihood of his family.  Many who worked with him knew of his drive and were always willing to help because of the plans made.  Taking time off was sometimes challenging.

There were husband and wife vacations and a few great ones including the kids to the Black Hills, Yellowstone, and Florida.  Other trips were visits to sisters he loved to see in Wisconsin, Washington, California and Hawaii.  He regretted not going to Norway with the family but it was not the best time to leave the farm with an upcoming reunion and he helped make it possible for his parents to travel.  In 2000, it was his family farm that co-hosted the 100-year Klukken Reunion.   Later, he was working to organize another get together of family members for 2020.  

He was very involved in the community and family was important to him.  Nephews and nieces loved to visit the farm.  Many of the nephews spent some summertime working with Dan during the earlier years of farming.  In recent years, Kyle Reed, Nicolle and Dylan Klukken spent their time working with Grandpa.  All enjoyed the occasional tractor ride and or bike ride.

Anyone that truly knew Dan, knew his generous heart, his friendly smile and his willingness to listen and help people in need.  He was a wonderful husband, father, uncle, brother and life-time neighbor friend.

Later in life, Dan started to spend more time in North Dakota, looking over the oil fields, and working on redevelopment projects driving a dump truck.  Eventually he started working for Trans Systems based out of Hillsboro, ND.  While working there, he reconnected with a past friend, Vicki Dahlstrom.  She had been a first-year music teacher during Dan’s Sr. year.  She remembered Dan as a helpful, kind young man in the boys’ quartet.  Music was their connection.  As their friendship grew, Dan found this to be his new home.   Dan and Vicki had a blessed union at Our Saviors Lutheran Church were Vicki was the choir director.  They made trips to visit Dan’s sister, Joyce in Hawaii, who was also happy for this connection to Osakis.  A final trip took them to Alaska to see Dan’s best friend, Grant Trask and accomplice from the early years.  Vicki did the best she could to care for Dan, as she did for her first husband through illness and we love her for that.

Moving dad back home was bittersweet as we knew of the difficult times ahead.  Sue was beside us as we cared for dad as the kind husband and father he was.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Dorothy (Bruce) Olson, Esther (Carmen) Thronson and Marilyn Klukken; in-laws: Orland Brunton, Ruth Brunton, Ann Brunton, Ted Herbert, Art Olson, Bruce Olson, Carmen Thronson.

Dan is survived by his wife, Victoria Dahlstrom of Hillsboro, ND; Sue Klukken of Alexandria, MN; two children: Theresa Reed (Marvin Kulzer) and Jeff (Shari) Klukken; five grandchildren: Kyle Reed, Nicolle Klukken, Dylan Klukken, Garrett Reed and Ashlyn Reed; sibling: Joyce (Ted) Herbert of San Francisco, CA; in- laws, Marlene (Art) Olson, Dean Brunton and Sharon (Lonnie) Iverson along with many nieces and nephews.

During the recent years caring for dad would have been difficult if not for the help of family members, long time friendships and former farming neighbors.  Special thanks to the staff of Autumn Cottages Memory Unit of Alexandria, MN, Salmons’ Place Senior Care for his final living home with a loving staff and finally Knute Nelson Hospice for their compassionate care given to dad.