1-701-642-4000
Leo “Kelly” Kjellerup, 89,
Browns Valley
,
MN
, formerly of Wahpeton, ND, and
Ottertail Lake
,
MN
, died Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at
Meritcare
Hospital
,
Fargo
,
ND
. The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 6, at Methodist/Presbyterian Church,
Browns Valley
,
MN
, with Rev. Anna Williamson officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Wm Krsing American Legion Post No.
58-Browns
Valley
. Interment will be at
Valley
View
Cemetery
,
Browns
Valley
, at a later date. There will be sharing of condolences and memories with Kelly’s family one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, is in charge of arrangements.
Leo Carl Kjellerup was born July 19, 1919 in rural New Effington, SD, the son of Ernest M. and Olga (
Greenland
) Kjellerup. He attended rural school near New Effington. Kelly helped as a farm hand and then participated in the CCC near
Rapid City
,
SD.
He moved to Sisseton, SD, where he worked at Dadey’s Pool Hall and later for Red Owl Store as an assistant manager. In January of 1940, Kelly married Ardell Medenwald of
Hankinson
,
ND
and accepted a job managing the Sisseton Golf Course. Shortly after the start of World War 11; Kelly worked in a linseed oil refinery in
Minneapolis
and also with Armour’s in
South St. Paul
,
MN
. Kelly entered the US Army on October 2, 1944 and served in the 164
th
American Division stationed in the Philippine Islands. He was honorably discharged on February of 1946 as TEC 4 Sergeant.
Kelly went to work for Land O’ Lakes and then went to work for the Soo Line Railroad. The family moved to Wahpeton, ND where he worked for Montgomery Wards for two years in 1955 he started his thirty year career with Bob Caspers at Vertin’s Furniture, later being named Caspers Furniture, retiring in 1984, as one of their key salesman and their appliance manager.
Kelly and Ardell then enjoyed a couple of winters in
Arizona
and lived at
Ottertail Lake
,
MN
. In 1987 he opened and operated Kelly’s Outpost in
Ottertail City
,
MN
for several years. Ardell passed away on March 15, 1992 and Kelly shortly thereafter moved to
Browns Valley
,
MN
, where he currently was residing.
Kelley took great interest in the history and culture of the
Browns
Valley
area and took great pride in the poetry he wrote while he lived in the area. He published a couple of gift books of his country prose. He also enjoyed in his later years the music played in Peever, SD by some of the local musicians. He will be remembered for his enthusiasm he would bring to his many projects and his deep affection for his family and dear friends. In a tribute given for Kelly, his life was once described as that of the French Cavalry’s motto “When in doubt, Gallop”, and gallop Kelly did into hearts and memories of all who called him friend.
Kelly is survived by his son Douglas Kjellerup, Fergus Falls, MN, and his daughter, Connie Kelly, Atlanta Georgia; four grandchildren, five great grandchildren, three step great grandchildren, his sister, Lorraine Peickert, Browns Valley; and his dear friend, Millie Rowland, Browns Valley.
Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ardell, and one sister, Marion Falkingham.
