Ross J. Klein, 87, of Gothenburg, died June 19, 2017, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

He was born on Nov. 29, 1929, south of Farnam, the son of Louis and Nona (Hayworth) Klein. Ross went to country school south of Farnam and completed eight years in seven. He then graduated from Curtis Agricultural High School. He earned his degree in electricity and allied electronics from a trade school in Lincoln in 1952. Ross was very active with sports in high school.

He enjoyed boxing and never lost a bout. He won his first bout by TKO in 37 seconds in the first round. He liked to tell that he had never had on boxing gloves before or even boxed before his first bout. He boxed for two years in Golden Gloves and won all rounds except one draw on point.

Ross farmed and ranched south of Farnam from 1950-85. In 1952, he briefly moved to Lincoln and worked at Mead Ammunition Depot because of crop loss due to hail. He also operated an electrical business and sold NK Seeds during those years. Ross bought an electronics business in Fort Morgan, Colorado, in 1985. He sold that business in 1997 and moved to Greeley, Colorado, to work for Sears appliance sales division. He also sold Honda and Toyota cars until May 2000, when he went to work for Successful Farming Magazines. He spent the next 11 years traveling through Colorado, Wyoming, western Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota as a supervisor of sales and demographics of farm information.

In 2007, Ross and Carolyn moved to North Platte. In 2015, Ross and Carolyn moved to Gothenburg.

Ross loved all animals and birds. He was so proud of his family and was a firm believer in honest, hard work.

Ross married Jean Whisler on Oct. 1, 1950, and to this union five children were born, Rhonda, Deb, Doug, Cindy and Eric. He was married to Evonne Knapp in 1989 and married Carolyn Anderson on Sept. 21, 2006.

Ross was preceded in death by father, Louis Klein; mother, Nona M. Klein; sister, Ruth Klein; brother, Russell Klein; and Evonne Knapp and Jean Klein.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; three daughters, Rhonda (Doug) Hill of Farnam, Deb (Ed) Krone of Gothenburg and Cindy (Rod) Troyer of Greeley, Colorado; two sons, Doug (Paula) Klein Moorefield and Eric Klein of Greeley; one brother, Raymond Klein of Trenton; aunt, Darlene Klooz of Sargent; 43 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; along with many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Online condolences may be shared at blasestrauser.com.

Services will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 26, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel with Greg Boller officiating. Burial will follow at the Maywood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m., with the family present from 4-6 p.m., on Sunday, June 25, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, which is in charge of arrangements.