Eileen Krenzel

Eileen Iris Krenzel passed away peacefully November 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada after a 20 year progression with Parkinson’s disease. EIleen was born on August 6, 1938, the oldest of nine children of Lawrence Klein and Kathryn Klein (Voller). She grew up on the family farm near Balta and went to school there. She graduated high school at the age of 16. At that time the school was run by Catholic nuns and they allowed Eileen and a classmate to skip 2 grades. Eileen went to Minot teachers college and earned her âstandardã. At age 17, she was teaching in the Silva, ND school.

Eileen married Walter Krenzel at Our Lady of Mt. Caramel Church in Balta on December 26, 1959.

Soon after, Walt, who had been discharged from the army, was called back for reserve duty during the Cuban missile crisis. They were stationed in Savannah, Georgia. Eileen called it a year vacation and they traveled extensively in the SE United States. This ignited a passion for traveling which Eileen continued throughout her life, eventually traveling to all seven continents, some of them several times.

Returning back to Minot, Walt resumed his career with the telephone company and Eileen returned to college to earn her undergraduate degree. In those early years Walt got transferred often and they owned a trailer house which they moved from city to city. They lived in Minot (twice), Fargo, Rapid City, SD and eventually Dallas, TX. While in Dallas, Eileen taught and attended Southern Methodist University where she received her masters degree. In 1967, Walt and Eileen moved to Colorado where she taught until retirement and lived for 54 years. Walt died in September 1987.

In 2019, as her Parkinson’s symptoms advanced Eileen moved back to Rugby, ND and lived in the Haal and Manor and then the Haal and Home. Later in 2023, her family helped her move to Legacy memory care in Las Vegas.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Walter Krenzel, brother Larry Klein, sister Pat Reiger, brothers-in-law Kim Spaeth, Pete Reiger, Ralph Bertsch, and Dick Ramage. Niece Lori White and nephew Jason Bertsch.

She is survived by siblings Virginia Bertsch of Las Vegas, NV; Marlys (Gene) Stumvoll of Sun City West, AZ; Judy Ramage of Montgomery Village, MD; Cindy (Jim) Fees of Eagan, MN; Corrine Spaeth of Las Vegas, NV; Daryl (Angela) Klein of Balta, ND, sister-in-law Shirley Klein of Yukon, OK and many nieces and nephews.

Eileen will be buried with her husband Walter Krenzel in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO in the spring.

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, January 3, 2026.