Phillip Kleffner

Phillip Aloys Kleffner, 85, business owner and Veteran of Belt, died of complications of congestive heart failure on Monday, Jan 9, 2012 at a local hospital.Vigil service will be held at St. Marks Catholic Church on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.Funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Marks Catholic Church in Belt on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.Burial will be held in Mount Olivet Cemetery.Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Phillip was born, to Clara and John Kleffner, in Westphalia Missouri, in 1926. He was the 10th child born to the family. He was educated in the Belt area and graduated high school from Belt in 1945. He was drafted into the service in 1945. Upon discharge from the service, he farmed near Belt for a few years and then started his own construction and plumbing business in the Belt area. During that time, he was Mayor of Belt, for 6 years, and lived with and cared for his mother. When his mother's health declined, his sibling, Sister Madeleine, came home to Belt to assist with her care and after his mother's passing, Sister Madeleine stayed on to keep house for Phillip. Sister Madeleine died in 2005, leaving Phil alone for the past 6 years. When his health failed in 2011, he moved to the Goldstone assisted living home in Great Falls where he has been since.His hobbies included bowling, fishing and gardening and he produced a fine garden each year he lived in Belt. He was an amazing story teller and enjoyed sharing his memories with everyone around him. He also had his stories published in the Belt Eagle. His column was entitled Slightly Off Plumb . He was very active in St Mark's Catholic Church in Belt.Phillip is survived by his Brother Paul Kleffner, in Helena and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.He was proceeded in death by his parents, brothers; Joseph, Al, Frank, and Leo and his sisters; Marie Goo, Laura Yeater, Sister Madeleine Kleffner, and Christine Armstrong.Memorials are suggested to St. Marks Catholic Church, 128 Castner St Belt, MT 59412or Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund,128 Castner St Belt, MT 59412.