Charlene Mary Klein

Charlene Mary (Martin) Klein died on Friday, July 11th, 2025, at Alomere Health at the age of 82. A memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 17th, 2025, at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel with visitation one hour prior to the service. 

Inurnment will take place immediately following the service at Kinkead Cemetery.

A meal and gathering will follow at the Alexandria VFW to honor and celebrate Charlene’s life.

Born on March 14, 1943, in Fargo, ND; Charlene was the cherished daughter of Chester and Faye (Davis) Martin and was one of five siblings. Charlene's life was marked by a series of moves due to her father's career with the Soo Line Railroad, but she found her home in various communities. In her early years, Charlene learned the value of hard work, ironing various garments as a child to earn money to purchase her own clothes.

After graduating from Kimball High School in 1961, she met Wayne Klein at a dance and they began dating. They were joined in marriage on May 26, 1962, at Kimball United Methodist Church in Kimball, MN. Together they created a life rich in love and family, welcoming two children, Lori and Jeff. The couple purchased their first home in Litchfield, MN, before moving to Glenwood in 1966. While in Glenwood, Charlene worked as a cashier at Clem’s Fairway Foods.

From 1978 to 1984, Charlene and Wayne owned and operated Sleepy Hollow Resort on Stalker Lake in Underwood, MN. After selling the resort, the family moved to Alexandria, MN in 1986. Wayne was originally hired by The Big Gallon when the business decided to expand into meat sales—he was a skilled meat cutter and the perfect fit. In 1988, Charlene and Wayne took over The Big Gallon and began cutting and smoking meats together. That same year, their son Jeff joined the business. Over the years, the entire family pitched in at the Big Gallon, making it a true family business. The Big Gallon ran successfully for several years before they decided to branch out, opening Klein's RV in 1997.

In 2003, Klein’s RV expanded by building a new shop and paved lot. In 2005, the difficult decision was made to close The Big Gallon but Klein’s RV continued operating. In 2007, Klein’s RV moved to a new location outside of Alexandria where it operated until 2010.

That same year, Charlene purchased a piece of land “up north” between Longville and Remer, Minnesota — a place that quickly became one of her favorites. Over the years, she and her extended family created countless memories there, spending time camping, riding RZRs through the woods, swimming in the pool, and unwinding around the campfire.

Charlene moved to The Senator in 2016, where she enjoyed many happy and fulfilling years. She became actively involved in the community there—joining card club, attending board meetings, and even serving on The Senator’s board.

Charlene was a devoted mom who always put family first. Her loved ones knew her as dependable, caring, and just a little bit stubborn—in the best way. She could not hide her thoughts or feelings if she tried; her face said it all, which always kept things honest (and often entertaining)!

In addition to her family life and running businesses, Charlene had a wide range of hobbies and interests that brought her true joy. She loved camping and taking vacations with Wayne and their children—and later, with their ever-growing family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Charlene also enjoyed reading, cooking, and baking—especially when it meant feeding a crowd. Whether she was hosting a holiday gathering or playing a game of Hand and Foot or her favorite game, Widow’s Whist, she found her greatest happiness in bringing people together and making lasting memories

Charlene also had a deep interest in family history and spent many hours researching both her own ancestry and Wayne’s lineage. One of her adventures with Lori was traveling to Nebraska to meet her half-sister, Rebecca (Sloyer) Diercks—a connection she discovered through her genealogy searches.

Charlene Mary (Martin) Klein passed away on Friday, July 11th, 2025, at Alomere Health at the age of 82. She is survived by her children, Lori (Glenn) Roers and Jeff (Lynn) Klein; grandchildren, Tony (Karen) Roers, Ryan (Brittany) Roers, Brent (Noel) Roers, Sara (Matthew) Mounsdon, Dustin Klein, Brianna Klein, and Amber Klein; great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Rylie, Colt, Adlee, Jemma, Avery, Zeke, and one great-grandson on the way; sisters, Phyllis (Richard) Melgaard and Rebecca Sloyer Diercks; brothers, Denny (Barb) Martin and Greg (Bryan Hoime) Martin; and brother-in-law, Darrell Norby. Charlene is preceded in death by her parents Chester and Faye (Davis) Martin; husband, Wayne Klein; great-grandchildren, Simon, Evan, and Cohen; and sister, Paula Norby.