Jennings Benjamin Klug , 91, Minot, died Thursday, May 8, 2014 at his residence surrounded by his loving family and hospice.

J.B. was born February 4, 1923 on the family farm in Alliance Township of Clay County, Minnesota, the son of Ewald and Dorothea (Kuehl) Klug. He was educated at country schools in Clay County and graduated from Barnesville High School in 1941. He attended Dunwoodie Industrial School in Minneapolis before enlisting with the U.S. Navy in 1943. He honorably served his country during World War II.

After the War, J.B. returned to Barnesville and was united in marriage to Olivia Gilbertson on August 21, 1946 at Barnesville. He attended North Dakota State University in Fargo from 1946-1950 and received a degree in architectural engineering. They continued to live in Fargo, where he was employed at the Fargo Foundry until 1964, when the family moved to Minot. He was employed at the Minot Air Force Base as an architectural engineer with the 91st Civil Engineering Squadron for 19 years. He and Olivia lived in Germany for three years at Ramstein Air Force Base as an INH programmer. He retired in 1986, and they have continued to make Minot their home these past number of years. Olivia died November 4, 2012.

J.B. was a longtime member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, where he actively served on the Board of Elders and Church Council. He was a lifetime member of the Minot American Legion and served as the local commander and senior vice commander in charge of members. He was also a life member of the VFW and the Am Vets. He was a member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club, where he served as past president and District 17 as Lt Governor, the World War II Last Man's Club, NARFE, and AARP. He and Olivia were members of the Magic City Square Dance Club, where he served as past president and was the ND State president. He was active locally with Toastmasters and in 1979, was elected the District 20 Governor. He assisted in chartering Toastmaster clubs at Minot AFB, Harvey, Velva, Garrison and Hazen. J.B. served on the Minot Mayor's Committee to assist the Disabled and in 1988, was appointed to the ND Governor's Committee for the Disabled. In 1988, he served as the Chairman for the Minot Cancer Society. He was co-founder of the North Hill Improvements Corporation, from which Polaris Park was developed.

J.B. enjoyed woodworking, square-dancing, traveling, writing as well as spending time with his family. He had written three books during his nearly a century of life. On May 2, 2008, J.B. was pleased to make the Honor Flight with other World War II Veterans to the WWII Veterans Memorial at Washington D.C. Blessed be the memory of J.B. Klug.

His loving family includes, children, Rodney (Marilyn) Klug, Grand Forks, ND, Dorthy (Michael) Wilz, Minot, ND, Bonnie (Clayton) Guffey, Minot, ND, William (Kathy) Klug, Minnetonka, MN and Randee (Richard) Wittmayer, Minot, ND; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Elton (Lois) Klug, Minneapolis, MN; along with several nieces and nephews and grandcat, Benny.

J.B. was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Olivia, daughter, JoAnne; brothers, Clarence, Hubert, Waldo and BenVern; sisters, Leona Overby, Irene Cook, Delda Ash, Florence Patzman and Ruth Thunberg.

Funeral service : Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment : Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation : Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St Mark's Lutheran Building Fund, Trinity Hospice or organization of the donor's choice.