Alphonse "A.A." Klein

A rosary will be recited for A.A. Klein at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Artesia, NM on February 10, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. There will be a funeral mass to immediately follow at 10:00 a.m. Father Francis Lazer will officiate with a burial to follow at Woodbine Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons Kevin Klein, Justin Powell, Randy Reed, Lance Conklin, Ryan Gaines, Jonathon Herrera, David Brown, and Eric Durbin.

Alphonse Alexander (A.A.) Klein, 94, beloved Husband, Father, Father-in-law, Son, Grandfather, and Brother, was called to his eternal resting place on February 4, 2025.

He entered this world on August 2, 1930 in Custer City, OK, born to Anton Alexander and Katherine Bertha Klein (Alex and Katie). He was one of 13 children living in Oklahoma and eventually moving to Carlsbad, NM. He met the love of his life, Betty, in the summer of 1953 and the two married on January 9, 1954, celebrating 71 loving years of marriage. They welcomed seven children in the years to follow. He and Betty moved to Artesia, NM in August of 1965 where they bought Klein's Mon-Reposa Dairy. A.A. and his brother-in-law Jim Murrill owned and operated Klein's Dairy along with his children. The life lessons, work ethic, values, and love that A.A. instilled in and taught to his family lives on in each of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

A.A. loved life, family, and God above all else. The love for his children and especially his grandchildren was beyond measure. He always had one of the grandchildren in his lap or learning by his side. He will always be remembered for the love and care he poured into his family. If he wasn't with his family, you could always find him farming, tending to his garden, at a fair, or his Church.

A.A. served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant in the Korean War.

He was a member of St. Edward's Catholic Church in Carlsbad, NM and then along with his wife a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Artesia, NM. He also served as a member of the Knights of Columbus for 60 years and many instrumental years on the Eddy County Fair Board, AAGA, and a past member of the Kiwanis Club.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Betty Klein; son Lex (Susan) Klein; son Timmy (Tammy) Klein; daughter Kathy (Bill) Wells; son Johnny (Rusty) Klein; son Jeff (Kim) Klein; grandson Kevin (Hayley) Klein; grandson Justin (Kassandra) Powell; granddaughter Jamie (Randy) Reed; granddaughter Kacy (David) Brown; granddaughter Karly (Eric) Durbin; granddaughter Allison (Lance) Conklin; granddaughter Courtney (Ryan) Gaines; granddaughter Jenna (Jonathon) Herrera; sisters Mildred Ruyle, Delores Walterschied, Virginia O'Kelley, and 23 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother Katherine Bertha (Katie) Klein and father Anton Alexander (Alex) Klein, son David Klein, daughter Lee Anne Klein, grandson Scott Klein, grandson Jake Klein, and two brothers and seven sisters.

Memorial donations can be sent in A.A's memory to:

St. Anthony's Church for the Hall Renovation

502 S. Ninth St.

Artesia, NM 88210

or your favorite charity

To order flower or plants please visit Son Flowers or Nelle's Floral in Artesia, NM.