Colleen Kleinjan

Colleen Kleinjan peacefully left this earth on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023.

A memorial for Colleen will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Ave, Bismarck, ND.

Colleen was born on July 19, 1938, during ‘high summer’ in her parent’s home in Bentley, North Dakota. Colleen’s mother, Alvera Lindquist, was of Swedish descent and her father, William Huber, was of German-Russian descent. William came to this country through Ellis Island in 1912.  Colleen was proud of her heritage and created genealogy documents for all family and extended-family members to enjoy.

Colleen grew up in Bentley. She graduated salutatorian from Mott High School in 1956 where she had attended Girls State and had been the editor of the high school paper.

Nearly twenty years after Colleen graduated high school, she graduated cum laude from Mary College in 1975 with a B.S. Nursing.  She began her over-thirty-year career with St. Alexius in areas of orthopedic surgery, women’s surgery and administration.  Evenings on the surgical floor were her favorite.

Colleen married the love of her life, Jasper Kleinjan, on September 22, 1957.  Jasper always said, ‘He married the only girl in town!’ and meant it as the utmost compliment.  Colleen and Jasper were married for fifty-nine years and had three children: Jay (wife Delores and sons Jasper III and Jacob), Jane and Stephanie. Jasper passed away at home during a snowstorm in December 2016 after having been lovingly cared for by Colleen.

Colleen enjoyed many hobbies, the most being outside ‘digging in the dirt’ and her passion for playing bridge. Colleen enjoyed her beautiful, exotic daylilies, her trees (especially her gingko), her magnificent backyard, and having her nose in a book.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in Colleen’s name at Cashman Nursery. With the donations, trees will be planted in Colleen’s name.