Kenneth Lindgren

Kenneth Paul Lindgren, who was born on June 23, 1929 in Princeton, Minnesota as the son of Paul and Anna (Chilstrom) Lindgren, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at his home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Kenneth, who was known as “Pete”, attended high school at Princeton and graduated in 1947.  He was captain of the football and basketball teams and also ran in track.  As a senior, he was voted to the All District football team as a quarterback.  He was also very proud of his Eagle Scout award and that he served as the President of the student Council.  Even though he participated in school functions at this high level, Pete perhaps missed a few too many days of class pursuing his passion for hunting and fishing in the woods, fields and wetlands around Princeton.  After graduation, Pete enlisted in the Army.  Although he served in the infantry during the Korean War, he was fortunate to be assigned as a driver and aid to Colonel Richard Taggart.  He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class and was honorably discharged in 1952.  On August 6th of 1949, Pete was united in marriage to Esther Tinge at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Princeton.  Pete and Esther had known each other since they were eight years old as neighbors, friends and school mates.  Their marriage lasted for 69 years until his passing. Pete chose the engineering profession and worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for 35 years.  As he was promoted, Ma Bell stationed Pete and his family in the communities of Princeton, Milaca, Paynesville, Sauk Center, Brainerd and Staples.  He was finally transferred to Detroit Lakes in 1960, where he finished out his career.  He rose to the level of plant engineer and worked to bring telephone service to much of northern Minnesota.  During his life, Pete became very adept at building.  As telephone lines were moved underground, he reused the cross arms from telephone poles to build the walls of his cabin at Long Lost Lake and additions to their house in Detroit Lakes. Pete’s life philosophy was very simple and based on staying active doing the things he loved.  He worked together with a friends to buy land and build neighboring cabins at Long Lost Lake, which is 45 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes.  As a result of that, the Lindgren’s, Heiserer’s and Wesloh’s have developed life-long friendship bonds and walked through all of its joy and sadness together.  Beside countless hours spent at the cabin, Pete was also an active member of First Lutheran Church, never turning down a request to help.  He delivered Meals on Wheels for over 20 years.  He was also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Eagles Clubs.  However, time spent with these groups was never prioritized over time with family at the cabin or on many trips to the mountains or hunting in the Dakotas.  As should be the case, family was always first. Pete is survived by Esther, his wife of 69 years, who still lives at the house they bought when they moved to Detroit Lakes.  He is also survived by his daughter Sandra Restine of New Germany, Minnesota and her daughter Sarah Restine and her son Tyler Evans; son John Lindgren of Duluth, Minnesota and his wife Ellen Miller-Lindgren and daughters Katrina and Ahnnali; brother David Lindgren of Pella Iowa and his wife Arlene.  There are several other nieces, nephews  and extended family and friends too numerous to mention here.  Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Anna Lindgren; his son Jed Lindgren; his brother Leslie Lindgren, and his sister Carolyn Clary. Services will be held at a later date. Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the West-Kjos Funeral Home, Detroit Lakes, MN.