M. Klinginsmith Services Held

Wed, 06/22/2022 - 16:05

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Obituaries

Moragh M. Klinginsmith, 92, of San Antonio, Texas passed away into the arms of the Lord on May 24, 2022. She is met with all the celebrations and promises God has given us through His Word. We rejoice knowing she is in her heavenly home, where we will see her again someday. Moragh follows her beloved husband, Russel Klinginsmith, of fifty-eight years.

Celebration of Life services were held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul. Burial was in the Elmwood Cemetery.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, you donate to an organization of your choice in her honor.

Moragh was born an only child to Ellen Fergusson in Glasgow, Scotland. She grew up during World War II. She survived the war years as a child moving between her mother and grandmother, aunts and uncles, and family friends. She lived in Alloa, Edinburgh, London, and Oban during the summers.

In 1948, at the tender age of eighteen, Moragh joined the British Woman’s Royal Army Corps and was stationed for basic training in Guilford, England. She was groomed to be a teleprinter in the Signal Corps, one of the top positions the Army could bestow on a new enlistee. During this period, Moragh received her nickname, Miki.

Following her Signal Corps training period, Miki was posted to Edinburgh Castle. The castle’s dungeons had been made into modern offices during WWII and were where the Signal Corps operations were housed. As an operator on the teleprinter switchboard, Miki sent messages to British camps and to allied airfields around the world. Miki’s training also included mountain climbing and map reading. In 1949, Miki’s corps was transferred to Bad Oberhausen, Germany, where members participated in teleprinter communications during the beginnings of the tumultuous Cold War period, notably marked by the Allied Forces “Great Berlin Airlift” operation. This was the largest scale humanitarian effort in the world’s history.

In 1950, Miki decided to part ways with the military and entered a new adventure in London. She began working as a bookkeeper at several hotels in and around London and out to the coastal regions where she worked at resort hotels.

In 1953, Miki again embarked on another adventure, accepting a position with an American insurance company working in their office on Ramstein AFB. At twenty-three, this was an exciting place to work and where, through a friend, she met the love of her life and future husband, Russell Klinginsmith. Together, they began a fifty-eight-year journey of marriage, living and traveling all over the world.

During most of her marriage, Miki was a homemaker and mother, raising two children, Gregory and Stephanie. Traveling from assignment to assignment, Miki kept the family grounded and connected to the community. Wherever they were, she was involved in volunteer work with organizations, such as the Officers Wives Club and the Red Cross, that touched those communities in significant ways.

Through the years, they lived in many different places: Michigan, Ohio, Long Island, California, Hawaii, Virginia, and Texas, as well as in Okinawa. Everywhere they lived, Miki opened their home with joyful hospitality to one and all, including visiting family, military friends, exchange students, and many college friends of Greg and Stephanie’s over the years. Upon becoming an empty nester, Miki embarked on another career adventure through the field of fashion. She spent several years working as a buyer and store manager for Krause’s Fashions and later Willis’ Town and Travel in New Braunfels, Texas.

Miki and Russell traveled extensively, visiting all fifty states as well as crisscrossing the globe. A remarkable gourmet chef, Miki treated company in her home to dishes she experienced in her years of travel. Among the clubs and organizations Miki enjoyed, she also participated in her lady’s investment club, and after they moved to The Towers on Parklane, Miki was involved with the Welcoming Committee, greeting new residents with the hospitality that has always come so easy to her. She was also very much involved with The Military Women of The Towers Association. Miki adored and spoiled her grandchildren, Rebecca and Christopher, who were her greatest passion and delight over the years.

Moragh is survived by a son, Gregory Ellis Klinginsmith and his wife, Linda, of Austin, Texas; a daughter, Stephanie Ann Collins; and grandson, Christopher Michael Collins of Joplin, Missouri; a granddaughter, Rebecca Daniel Collins of Lansing, Michigan; sisters-in-law, Darlene Klinginsmith and Shirley Klinginsmith; neices and nephews, Terry and Cindy Steffey, Rick, Steve, Scott Klinginsmith, Debbie, Mark, Kim, and Lona Klinginsmith, Beverly Meinecke, Roberta Daniels, Patsy Onatah, Michael Bragg; and many greatand great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ellen Ferguson; husband, Russell Klinginsmith; four brothers-in-law, Robert, Rex, Gerald, and Jim Klinginsmith; five sisters-in-law, Frances Bragg, Evelyn Jones, Opal Gartland, Doris Voorhees, Ruby Steffey, and Elizabeth Bragg; nephews, Clintan Bragg, Dennis Steffey, Randy Voorhees, and Kenny Klinginsmith; and two great-nephews, Brent Steffey and Doug Bragg.

Moragh was beloved by all she met; her caring and loving heart and desire to care for others is her legacy, to promote the best possible world she could help to create and inspire all to follow her example.

We are here such a tiny time;

To occupy our tiny earthy space.

The reason we are here I know,

Is to make this a better place.

Feed an empty soul-

Right a wrong!

Put a smile on every face.

Raise your voice in song.

It can be a better place.

Where a life is dark,

Burn some candlelight.

Fill this space with grace.