Kelly C. Fleming, 66, St. Cloud

June 21, 1950 - August 24, 2016

After a brief battle with a very rare aggressive form of leukemia, Kelly received his call from our Lord to come home on Wednesday afternoon with his wife and family at his side.

A celebration of life will be held from 2PM to 6PM on Saturday, September 3 at Benton Station in Sauk Rapids with a prayer and remembrance service at 3PM.

Kelly was born on June 21, 1950 in St. Cloud to Charles and Louise (Mendel-Fleming) Erickson. He was a 1968 graduate of Sauk Rapids High School. On February 15, 1970 Kelly married Dianne Loehrer. Shortly after he was drafted by the United States Army to serve his country during the Vietnam War in which he received the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Being Honorably Discharged, Kelly returned to the Sauk Rapids area to start a family with his wife, Dianne. After 26 years of marriage, Dianne passed away in February 1996 while fighting her own battle with brain cancer. Kelly found happiness again when he married Susan Elfering on June 20, 1998. They resided in Waite Park until the time of his passing.

Kelly was employed for over 43 years by Electrolux Home Products in St. Cloud before retiring in 2012. He also held part-time jobs with Coborns Meat Department in Sartell and Riverboat Depot formally know as Jerry's in Sartell as a bouncer. Kelly was a member of the Sauk Rapids Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6992 and Machinists Union Local #623.

Kelly was an avid hunter and fisherman along with gardening and then canning his abundant bounty of fruits and vegetables. He also enjoyed woodworking projects which he proudly displayed in his homes. Kelly was a master at making wise "donkey" remarks and was not shy about saying them. Though first and foremost, Kelly loved to spend time with Sue and their many friends just kicking back in their renovated school bus/camper where he enjoyed cooking an assortment of food like bouja to pork loin and everything in between which he would generously share with his camping "family" on the shores of Lake Mille Lacs. But all in all, Kelly was a simple man with simple tastes. Starting with his flowing grey locks, his many assorted skull caps, his favorite tattered blue Levi jean jacket, which was so worn it became a vest, Busch Light Beer, to the compassion, generosity and yes, his stubbornness he showed to those who knew and loved him. Kelly was not much for saying goodbye, it was "I'll see ya when I see ya". So Kelly as you soar high we say to you...."We'll see ya when we see ya". You will be missed by all who knew and loved you. THIS COUNTRY MOURNS TODAY BECAUSE A VETERAN DIED!!!

Kelly is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Susan (his Toots) of Waite Park, children: Jason (Karla) Fleming- Sauk Rapids, Jaime Kronenberg (Paul Johnson)-Sauk Rapids, step-son: Zachary Buettner (Kelli Wiellenberg)-Avon, Mother: Louise (Mendel) Erickson-Sauk Rapids, siblings: Dean Erickson-Sauk Rapids, Sandra Erickson (Steven Prescott)-Sauk Rapids, Jeffrey Erickson (Kathryn Henderson)-Sauk Rapids, four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Fleming, step-father: Sidney Erickson, wife: Dianne (Loehrer) Fleming, siblings: Linda (Fleming) Jones, Dianna Lynn Fleming, Terry Erickson, brother-in-law: George Jones.

Special "Thank You's" to the Fifth Floor Oncology Unit and Fourth Floor ICU staffs at the St. Cloud Hospital, to Doug and Emily along with the staff at Williams-Dingmann Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and to the many friends and family, whose constant prayers, love and support helped us through this very difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family to help with medical bills.