David Matthew Kleindienst

He was born September 13, 1943, in Bluffton, Missouri, to Orville and Nellie Benskin Kleindienst.

David's folks bought him a 5-dollar guitar when he was a little boy. His mother taught him a couple of chords on it that she knew, and then he was off to be a musician. Even though he was very shy, soon he was off playing at school socials and other neighborhood events.

His music led him to meet Dorothy, whom he always referred to as “The love of my life,” when he was 16 and hired to play guitar in a band.

Dorothy, at age 15, was hired at about the same time as their girl singer. They were soon married, and this began a 65-year life of music, along with their 3 sons. Daniel Kleindienst, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Randy Kleindienst of Kingdom City, Missouri, and Eric Kleindienst of Fulton, Missouri.

They, along with Dorothy’s brother Steve Bode, and other family members, were known as The Country Rangers, and they owned their own dance and dinner club. Also, they performed at events across the country. Their show could be heard on KFAL radio station here in Fulton for 7 years, playing both Country and Bluegrass music. Both older sons, Daniel and Randy, are keeping his legacy of music alive and are both in the music business.

After serving in all areas of the church work for 40 years, David was ordained as a Minister in the Intercontinental Church of God and served in the Columbia, Missouri, congregation. Youngest son, Eric follows his dad's footsteps in working for the church. He is a deacon and bookkeeper.

David worked at the AP Green Brick plant, now (HWI) Harbison Walker International, for 40 years. He was a diligent worker who always wanted to do his job to perfection. He worked there so long that he thought of several of the workers as family. But he always was especially close to Charles Lawrence and Billy Hughes. He only showed up once late in all those years. The country road that he traveled to work was flooded, and he had to find another route to get there.

After retiring, and after his health declined, he and Dorothy changed their hobby of climbing every tall hill they found to driving and taking wildlife photos. They would take a picnic and take rides daily all-over Central Missouri.

In his earlier years, he was a known skillful hunter, as his older sons are now. David was one of the first to bag a turkey during the first opening in Callaway County.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Dorothy; his 3 sons, Daniel (Camilla) Kleindienst of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Randy (Christine) Kleindienst of Kingdom City, Missouri, and Eric Kleindienst of Fulton, Missouri; and Brandon Flowers, of Fulton, Missouri, an Elder in the church and a friend that he thought of as a son. David also leaves behind 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Gladys (Charlie) Sinden and Betty Whitaker, both of Fulton, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

Services are pending at Debo Funeral Home in Fulton, Missouri. Pastor Bruce Williamson officiating. Burial at Mount Carmel Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepdad, Carroll Patrick; sister, Marsha (John) Mize; and brother, Ronald Patrick.

David will be sleeping at Mount Carmel Cemetery, waiting for Christ's return and the resurrection.