Lee Earl Klingler, 87, of Sugar City, passed away April 13, 2011 at Homestead Assisted Living in Rexburg. He was born May 16, 1923 in Rigby, Idaho to Godfrey and Mable Lee Klingler. He attended grade school in Plano and high school at Edmunds High School.

He entered the US Army on November 9, 1943 at Fort Douglas, Utah. He served in France, Germany and Austria. He was honorably discharged on May 7, 1946.

On January 2, 1948, he married Emma Bishoff in Idaho Falls. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in January.

Earl was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had a dairy in Sugar City until the Teton Dam flood in 1976. He then continued farming until his retirement in 1992. He loved horses and rode in the Upper Valley Wranglers for over 20 years. He also cutter raced for several years. He gave many hours serving his community at the Rexburg fairgrounds.

He is survived by his wife Emma Klingler of Sugar City, children Helen (Dale) Orme of Henderson, Nevada, Glenna (Ron) Young of Cascade, Idaho, Dean (Lisa) Klingler of Sugar City, Denton (Karen) Klingler of Blackfoot; siblings, Karl (Gae) Klingler, Eldon (Karen) Klingler, Lena Siepert; 12 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Roy Klingler, his parents a sister and four brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 18 at the Sugar City 4th Ward Chapel, with Bishop Joshua Bingham officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:00 to 6:30 at Flamm Funeral Home, 61 North 1st East, in Rexburg and Monday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Burial will be in Sugar City Cemetery.

Military rites will be conducted by the Madison County Veterans. The family extends a special thanks to Homestead Assisted Living and Sue Salvesen and others from Hospice.