Scott Klingenstein

Scott M. Klingenstein, 57, Bismarck, died unexpectedly on February 25, 2013 at Sanford Health, Bismarck.
A funeral service will be held at 2 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Reverend Timothy G. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Hannover Cemetery, Hannover, ND.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with time for reflecting and sharing memories from Scott’s life.
Scott was born November 12, 1955 in Salinas, CA to Jim and Shirley (Cash) Klingenstein. Scott had one brother, Jeff, who was two years younger than him. They lived in San Diego, CA through Scott’s 8th grade year. He was very proud of his record at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, as he won a prize for never missing a day of school in six years! The following year, he more than balanced out his perfect attendance when he broke his femur and was in a body cast for eight months. Scott’s family then moved to Monterey, CA. By age 16, Scott was cutting school to work for his neighbor, a talented carpenter. That same year he got his GED. By age 18, Scott had his general contracting license and landed his first big job in Ft. Bragg, CA. In 1976, he moved to North Dakota to work as a carpenter at the Minnkota Power Plant in Center. He also worked at Antelope Valley and the Dakota Gasification Plant in Beulah. When laid off from work at the plants, Scott went to Georgia and built two houses, one for his dad and the other for his brother. He was a member of the local carpenters union. Scott married Carol Windhorst on June 1, 1978, in Hannover, ND. Their first child, Zachary, was born in 1980 and passed away much too quickly at 13 months old from SIDS. They had two more children, Matthew and Madalyn. During this time, Scott went to BSC (then BJC) and later to UND, graduating with his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He completed his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. Interested in wind energy, he completed his thesis on wind turbine blade design. Scott accepted his first engineering job at Bismarck State College as an Associate Professor of Engineering. This was his 22nd year teaching at BSC.
Scott enjoyed teaching, challenging his students, and assigned lots of homework. When his students transferred to NDSU to finish their engineering degree, he took great pride in their success. Scott was a true outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was at peace in a boat. He loved to garden, and at one point had five gardens within a 12 mile radius! He planted and the family had to weed! Scott proudly taught his daughter how to fish, hunt, and garden. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing people work, especially with him on projects! He enjoyed cooking so much, he considered himself a sous chef, and would take on any cooking challenge with his kids.
Scott was very giving of his time and often helped friends and family on various building projects. Scott taught his son almost everything he knew, but time has cut the lessons short. Scott helped build Matt’s house and the foundation to Madalyn’s house. It is clear he helped lay the groundwork in their lives in more ways than one. He took pride in his vehicles, and would proudly announce, “Yep, only one more payment boys…it’s almost paid for!”
Scott is will be missed by his children, Matthew (Laura) Klingenstein, Mandan, Madalyn (Brendan) Muldoon, Fargo, and Zane (Marie) Dorsey, Eugene, OR; grandchildren Stella, Orin, Kyah, Taylor, Madison, and Gavin; former spouse, Carol Klingenstein, New Salem; his mother, Shirley Campbell, Ocala, FL; brother, Jeff (Maureen) Klingenstein, FL; and his niece and nephew, Holly and Brook.
Scott was preceded in death by his father, Jim Klingenstein; his beloved infant son, Zachary; his grandparents; and his favorite aunt, Kathleen Windhorst.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.