Neil Klusmann
Neil Klusmann, age 59, died
peacefully on December 8, 2010, with his beloved family by
his side in Billings, Montana after a year-long battle with
Leukemia. His pain and suffering are now over.
Neil was born August 12, 1951 in Bozeman, Montana to William
and Dulcie Klusmann. The family moved to Billings in 1954
where Neil later attended local schools and Billings West
High School, graduating in 1969. Neil served in the U.S.
Navy in 1970 and was stationed for the majority of the time
in Exmouth, Western Australia at a Naval Communications
Station. After discharge, he attended MSU-B (formerly
Eastern Montana College) in Billings for a year before
transferring to MSU Bozeman where he graduated with a B.S.
in Business-Marketing in 1976. During his high school and
college years he worked at various TOI movie theatres in
Billings and Bozeman.
Neil met his wife, Debbie (Worthington) in 1973 while
attending Montana State University. They were married in
1974. After graduation from MSU, Neil accepted a job with
First Bank in LaCrosse, WI and worked there for a year
before moving back to Billings to accept a job with Security
Bank (First Interstate Bank). He worked as a Personal
Banker, RE Processor, and Commercial & Construction Lender
before accepting the position of Marketing Director in 1980.
While in this position, he completed a three-year graduate
course at the Colorado Graduate School of Banking at the
University of Colorado. Neil was promoted to Chief Marketing
Officer of First Interstate BancSystem in the early 1980’s.
He worked in that position for the remainder of his career.
Due to the onset of Leukemia, Neil took an early retirement
in April 2010.
Neil enjoyed golfing anywhere, but especially with his
friends at the Yellowstone Country Club. He loved the
outdoors, hiking, fishing, skiing, traveling and spending
time with his friends, family and his dogs. He was a
dedicated MSU Bobcat fan and tried to never miss a game. He
was a man who everyone admired and looked up to. His
exuberant personality and humor are the two things that he
will be remembered for the most. Neil will be greatly
missed, but never forgotten.
Neil is survived by his wife, Debbie Klusmann; daughters,
Jennifer and Sara; mother, Dulcie Klusmann; and brother, Dan
Klusmann (Teresa); as well as many other relatives and
friends.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 15,
2010 at St. Pius X Church at 3:00 pm. St. Pius X Church is
located at 717 18th Street West, Billings, MT 59102.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Neil’s memory
to www.CaringBridge.org, www.BeTheMatch.com or your local
Humane Society.
Neil’s family would like to give a special thanks to the women from Journey Hospice. They were his guardian angels who brought him peace and comfort to the very end, and for that his family will be forever grateful.
Remembrances
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Neil was
a good co-worker with a great imagination and enthusiasm. Our daughter
was about the same age as his girls and we both enjoyed swapping stories
about them as they grew up. Neil’s daughters were very important to him
and he spoke with pride of their accomplishments.
Neil’s banking background as a lender allowed him to interface with
various areas of the bank with an ease and efficiency that most
marketing professionals lack. Neil was active on the bank’s Asset and
Liability Committee and I remember his keen insight on consumer behavior
and expectations. He was the strong proponent of the bank’s initial
investment in the highly successful I-Pay internet venture. By any
measure, Neil was a success in the banking industry.
I left First Interstate Bank in 2002 and ran into Neil a few years later
and enjoyed a great visit catching up on families and it turned out to
be the last time I saw Neil. It was difficult to learn of his fight with
cancer and I was saddened by his death. My wife Beth knew Debbie and
occasionally visited with her on chance meetings in Billings.
We pray for Debbie and Neil’s family during this time.