Kenneth Lindor

A private family and extended Lindor/Hopkins families Celebration of Life service for Ken Lindor, formerly of Cyrus, Minnesota, will be held in Morris and will include Military Honors at a graveside service at Scandia East Cemetery. A livestream of Ken’s service will be available to watch beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2021, on the Pedersen Funeral Home website; scroll to the bottom of Ken’s obituary for the link.

Kenneth Vernon Lindor was born on March 21, 1923, at home on the Lindor Farm in Nora Township, rural Pope County, Minnesota. He was the fourth of eight children born to Elizabeth (Klabunde) and Albin “AW” Lindor. Ken was baptized into the Christian faith at First Lutheran Church in Kensington. He attended rural schools, graduating with the Kensington High School class of 1942. While in school, he excelled in baseball and basketball.

Ken served his beloved country during World War II as a sergeant and as a squad leader in the US Army Infantry’s 3rd Division. He participated on the basketball, softball, and boxing teams when they were not on duty while in Austria, Germany, France, and Belgium. He returned home to farming five miles north of Cyrus. Ken married Dorothy Joan Hopkins at the Villard Methodist Church on August 28, 1948. Dorothy and Kenny raised five children and spent nearly 60 married years together.

As an active member of his community, Kenny was a member of the American Legion for over 75 years, served on the Cyrus School Board for over 25 years, and received the 1980 School Board Member of the Year award. He also served on church, elevator, creamery, and bank boards.

Kenny was a big sports enthusiast, whether it be playing in the lawn with kids, watching relatives, cheering for the Minnesota Twins, or playing in the town team state tournament several times in the early 50s. One year, the Kensington outfield consisted of Les, Don, and Ken Lindor. Ken also loved listening to a wide variety of music and dancing, which he loved to do with Dorothy.

Loyal, honest, and dedicated describe Kenny Lindor. He enjoyed being a dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa, and he always put family first. Ken was the primary caregiver for Dorothy at their home for a decade before she moved into West Wind Village. With the exception of surgeries and recoveries, Ken drove to Morris every day to spend time with Dorothy until she passed away in August of 2007. Following her death, he continued to visit those in care centers and assisted livings.

Ken continued to live on the farm until 2016, when a health emergency led him to move to Skyview and then to West Wind Village in August of 2020. He passed peacefully into heaven on July 17, 2021, at the West Wind Village in Morris. He had lived to 98 years.

Kenneth is survived by his children: Dennis (Dawn Bjorge) Lindor, Larry (Heidi) Lindor, Jill (Steve) Van Kempen, Kay (Mark) Blauert, and Jody (Brent) Reimnitz; grandchildren: Heidi (Neil) Suess, Jamie (Rochelle) Van Kempen, Katie (Craig) Knochenmus, Monica (Jason) Detert, Nathan (Sarah) Reimnitz, Emily (Will) Mangen, Haylee Blauert, Nicole Lindor, Hilary (Jordan) Kampmeier, and Andrew Lindor; great-grandchildren: Kye, Abram, and Maela Suess, Andi and Everett Van Kempen, Honor and Shiloh Knochenmus, Wrenna Detert and Micah Reimnitz; one sister, Darlene Kringen; brother-in-law, Charles (Marge) Hopkins; sisters-in-law: Lorraine Lindor, June Frederick, Margaret Hopkins, Patricia (Tom) Veum-Smith, and Jana Hopkins; and many nieces and nephews and their families. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; grandson, Jacob Van Kempen; great-granddaughter, Eva Reimnitz; parents, Elizabeth and Albin; brothers and their wives: Raymond, Les (Gina), and Don; sisters and their husbands: Evelyn, Ione (Russell) Amundson, and Lois (Tom) Bailey; parents-in-law, Neil and Nellie Hopkins; brothers-in-law, Jack Hopkins, Bruce (Betty) Hopkins and Dennis Kringen; sisters-in-law, Jean (Bill) Hatcher, Mary (George) Selnes, Richard Zavadil, Floyd Frederick, and Ardus Hopkins; niece, Kathy Lind; and nephews: Tom Hatcher and Brian Amundson.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Kenny.

The family of Ken Lindor wants to thank you for joining the virtual service celebrating the life of our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, father-in-law, brother-in-law and friend.

In his life of 98 years this incredible man made many friends and acquaintances. Kenny also has a large extended family who loved him as much as Kenny loved them.

Although we know it’s disappointing to his many friends, we found it necessary to limit the church attendance to family. For that we are sorry, but we have a number of family who have health and immunity issues and with the spike in Covid-19 and the variants, it’s still a real concern.

Kenny wanted to do whatever he could to join the fight against the pandemic to help protect the safety of family, friends, and community.

Please know that whether you were a life-long friend or a more recent one, Kenny valued you and appreciated your presence in his Life. God Bless every one of you!

Blessed be the memory of Kenneth V. Lindor