LeDora Kliewer

LeDora Esther Kliewer, age 97, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on January 7, 2023. LeDora was born August 31, 1926 in Glendive, Montana to the late Henry and Elizabeth (Albrecht) Deckert. She was also preceded in death by husband Archie Henry Kliewer, brothers Eldon Deckert, Lloyd Deckert, Waldo Deckert, Algy Deckert, and their wives Adina (Lloyd) Kliewer and Olga (Waldo) Deckert and Delilah (Algy), and a nephew, Roane Deckert, and a grandson, Timothy Kliewer.

LeDora was a wife and homemaker, and served in church ministry alongside her husband, Archie, playing piano and organ for services and covering the alto parts when singing. She loved preparing meals and baking for family and friends. She enjoyed quilt making for births and graduations of grandchildren, sewing suits, sports jackets, and many other pieces of clothing for her family, and crocheting afghans, scarves, and mittens. She would counted-cross-stich many items/pictures to give away. She painted many pictures using Artex liquid embroidery paint. In later years her favorite pass times were reading and picture puzzles. The largest puzzle she completed was 5000 pieces. There was always a table set up for her current puzzle and its colorful odd shaped pieces.

She grew up on a farm on the eastern plains of Montana. She would tell stories of learning homemaker skills from her mom, raising piglets (her favorite form of pet as a child), helping her father dig out their basement by managing the team of horses used to pull the grader, and many other duties that farm life entailed.

One summer she lived with family in South Dakota and worked at a local restaurant. She would tell stories of a local patron who would yell out after every one of his meals, “What kind of P-Y-E are you serving today?” It became a family tradition to ask the same question of her at the dinner table, and rarely did she fail to deliver yet another tasty p-y-e treat from her busy oven.

She attended Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, where she was approached by a certain upper classman with a wonderful singing voice, Archie Kliewer, to be his accompanist. They soon decided to marry but first had to write their parents to ask for permission. It took a full month to receive letters back, at which time they were able to make formal announcement at school.

Archie and LeDora married July 8, 1948 in Ritchie, Montana at her home Mennonite church. It was a candlelight ceremony with many family, friends, and neighbors in attendance. She and Archie would end up celebrating 75 years of marriage on July 8, 2023.

Their first son, Ronald, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Their second and third sons, Michael and Stanley, were born in Montana while Archie was teaching in a one room school. They then moved to Newton, Kansas so Archie could attend Bethal College. During Christmas break of that first year they traveled back to be with family in Montana. On the return trip their car was struck in South Dakota by a large County truck that ran a stop sign. LeDora and son Ronald were thrown from the vehicle, and the impact left her with many injuries. She did recover, and it was back in Kansas one an a half years later that their fourth son, Gregory, was born. Later they moved to northern Michigan. It is there that their fifth son, Douglas, was born.

Besides all the things she did to serve her family, LeDora was very involved with Archie’s pastoral ministry. They served at Mennonite churches in Kansas as well as Cummins, Michigan. Then they founded the Atlanta Bible Church in the small town of Atlanta, Michigan. Then they served two different congregations over the course of 15 years in Coldwater, Michigan, and during this time LeDora was involved in administrative work at two different Christian schools as well. Archie was then led to pastor the Cortez Bible Church in Cortez, Colorado before he and LeDora retired in 1990.

LeDora heart was filled with love from the grace she had been shown throughout her life. Everyone who meet her experienced that love and acceptance through her natural smile and gracious demeanor. She was a great hugger! She would never shy away from joking with her boys with a twinkle in her eye and wry smile.

LeDora is survived by her sons, Ronald Kliewer, Michael (Paula) Kliewer, Stanley (Karen) Kliewer, Gregory Kliewer, and Douglas Kliewer, 10 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, John (Opal) Kliewer, and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date yet to be determined.

Because of LeDora’s heart for missions, memorials may be made to the Grandville Bible Church Mission Group to support the needs of those serving to share the good news around the world.