Carol J. Kleven


Carol J. Kleven, 73, Cook, passed away on Tuesday, October 6, 2015, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, Minnesota.
Carol Jean Kleven was born on February 19, 1942 to Walter and Sophia (Anthony) Enzmann in Cook, MN. Growing up she was a member of the Field 4-H, showing Holsteins at the St. Louis County Fair. She was County 4-H President and the 1960 Minnesota 4-H Leadership Winner, attending the National 4-H Congress in Chicago. She graduated from Cook High School in 1960, Virginia Jr. College (where she was on the Student Council), and received her teaching degree in Vocational Home Economics from the University of Minnesota where she was a member of Clovia 4-H Sorority.
She married Laurance Kleven on September 4, 1965 in Cook. They lived in Govnick, MN, Zim, MN and in 1973 moved to Cook, where they owned and operated a beef farm.
Carol taught Vocational Home Economics for 34 years, 30 of which were in the St. Louis County Schools. She lived and worked by the 4-H motto: "Make the Best Better." She expected all her students to work to the "best of their abilities…and then give 10% more." She was the advisor to the Future Homemakers of America (FHA) where she had hundreds of district and state gold medal winners in Action Activity Events (Peer Education Projects), numerous District FHA Officers, 8 State FHA Officers and 1 National FHA Officer. She had more District, State, and National winners than any another teacher in the state. She could always be seen helping students before and after school, on weekends and during the summer. She had the State Mobile Home Design Winner and several District and State Make-it-Yourself with Wool Winners. She went back to school and obtained her teaching degree in Science Education from St. Cloud State University in 1990 and taught Jr. High Science for 10 years. She had many students who competed at the Region Science Fair and several at the State Science Fair.
Carol was also leader of the Field 4-H Club for 20 years and had 3 National 4-H Project Winners in Chicago.
Carol was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Cook, where she had taught Sunday School, had been a Be-Friender, Grief Support Group Facilitator, Sr. Citizen's Bible Study Facilitator and was President of the Women of the ELCA. She served as Mission Growth Chairman and Secretary of the Laurentian Conference WELCA, and served on the Northeast MN Synod Women of the ELCA Board. She had also served on the Virgie Hegg Hospice Board and the St. Louis County Extension Committee. She was a past member of Cook's PEO-Chapter ER.
Carol was preceded in death by her husband Laurance in (1998); her father Walter Enzmann in (1998); and her mother, Sophie (Anthony) Enzmann in (2001).

Carol is survived by her children: Marnie (Jeff) Bigler of Rochester, MN; Tom (Sara) Kleven of Lake Park, MN; grandchildren: John, Mary, Grace and Luke Bigler, and Garrett, Katelyn and Camden Kleven; brother Jim Enzmann of Cook; brother-in-law Bob Kleven of Eveleth, MN; sisters-in-law Maryls (Clayton) Johnsrud of Goodridge, MN, Helen (Bob) Mobroten of Kingland, TX and Grace Kleven of Eveleth, MN; uncles Harry Enzmann of Cook and Archie Thurman of Shelby Twsp., MI; cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations in memory of Carol, may be made to:
Mayo Clinic Dept. of Development-Lymphomatoid Papulosis Research , 200 First Str SW, Rochester, MN 55905; Seasons Hospice-Patient Care Fund, 1696 Greenview Dr. SW, Rochester, MN 55902; Camp Vermilion Building Project-Kitchen, VLM, 2555 Vermilion camp Rd., Cook, MN 55723; or W. C. Heiam Medical Foundation, P.O. Box 1195, Cook, MN 55723

SERVICES: Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Visitation will be held from noon until the hour of service at the church. Pastor Bruce Hannem will be the officiant. Music will be provided by Kathy Forsline, Steve LaPatka and Cynthia Hannem. A reception in Carol's honor will follow in the church social hall after the service. Interment will be at a later date in the Field Township Cemetery. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. To sign the online guest book or leave a condolence for the family, go to: www.mlakerfuneralhome.com