Past District Governor Brian Thies presents Ruth Klossner with a plaque and pin at the club’s Scholarship Night meeting on Tuesday, July 14, at the Lafayette Charter School.

LAFAYETTE — Ruth Klossner, a Lafayette Area Lions member for 21 years, was unanimously voted into the prestigious Lions Hall of Fame for District 5M2 at the Lions Mid-Winter Convention back on February 15, 2020 at the City Center Hotel in Mankato.

The Lions Hall of Fame honors those Lion members of character and substance who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment and dedication to the efforts of their club, district or multiple district and the motto of our association, “We Serve.”

Klossner was recognized for her years of involvement in Lions and the impact she has had on all those who have been recipients of her volunteer services. Her list of achievements and awards received are extensive. In her Lions Club, Klossner was the first female president along with being secretary, publicity coordinator, editor of “The Local Lion” newsletter and club photojournalist. Ruth has volunteered hundred of hours for the Lafayette Area Lions projects such as Santa Day, Easter Egg Hunt and Liberty Day, just to name a few. Her more noteworthy accomplishment is the fact that she has recruited a total of 20 new Lions.

Not only is Klossner a very active member of the Lafayette Area Lions, but she finds time to volunteer to be the present Communication Coordinator for Fields of Grace Lutheran Parish and Bernadotte Lutheran Church, President of Bernadotte Lutheran congregation, President of Nicollet American Legion Auxiliary, photographer for 4H livestock shows at Minnesota State Fair, and photographer for area school events. The residents of Nicollet are extremely lucky and grateful to have Ruth share her photography acumen to document countless community and school events, especially in the sports area. She stays up late at night to ensure pictures are posted on Facebook first thing the next morning. The cities of Lafayette and Nicollet and the Township of Bernadotte are indebted to Klossner for each city/township’s history documentation published in History of Lafayette, History of Nicollet, and History of Bernadotte Twp. These projects were huge undertakings and Klossner gave unselfishly of her time and talent to have these published. Klossner has voluntarily served the surrounding communities all her life.

Klossner has received numerous awards for her volunteer service in Lions which include the Melvin Jones Fellowship, Melvin Jones Progressive Award, Helen Keller Sight Award, Can Do Canines Top Dog Award and was named “Zone Lion of the Year.”

The Lions Hall of Fame induction was originally to take place at the Lions Multiple Convention in Rochester in April but was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was then decided to do the induction on a smaller scale at the club level. Past District Governor Brian Thies presented Klossner with a plaque and pin at the club’s Scholarship Night meeting on Tuesday, July 14, held at the Lafayette Charter School. Klossner was highly praised for being the exemplary role model of giving and service.