1918
Kenneth
2009
Kenneth Christeson
August 20, 1918 — August 15, 2009
Kenneth Bernard Christeson was born August 20, 1918 to Ernest and Annie (Erickson) Christeson on the family farm by Clinton. He was the eighth of 13 children. Our Lord called Kenneth home on Saturday, August 15, 2009, at Sunrise Cottages in Rochester, MN. He attained the age of 90 years, 11 months, 24 days.
Kenneth was baptized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church in Clinton and was a life long member there. He attended country school west of Clinton, graduating from the 8th grade. He then stayed on at the family farm (which is now the Audrey Weinman farm on Hwy 75) to help with field work and the animals.
Kenneth was united in marriage to Agnes Carlson on June 30, 1941 in an outdoor ceremony at the Carlson farm three miles south of Clinton. They were blessed with 67 wonderful years together. After the wedding, they lived with Kenneth’s parents for a short time.and then moved to his brother Earl’s farm where they shared a house with Earl and Emma and another brother Elmer and his wife Catie. In 1942, they bought his Dad’s farm east of Clinton. They raised 2 children, Darrell Dean and Carol Dianne. In addition to his grain farming, Kenneth had milk cows, beef cattle and hogs. He also enjoyed selling Trojan seed corn, which allowed him to stay in contact with area farmers. Kenneth and Agnes continued to live on the farm until his retirement in 1982 when they moved to their newly built home in Clinton.
No stranger to hard physical labor, Kenneth told of the post holes he dug by hand so the Agralite coop could sink their first electric poles in this area. He was paid a whopping 35 cents an hour! Kenneth was always involved in his church and served on various boards and as an usher. He was a member of the Ortonville Toastmasters Club,and enjoyed the challenge of impromptu speech preparation. He also served on the school board at the rural school where his children attended elementary school until it closed in 1953.
Kenneth and Agnes enjoyed 28 years as “snow birds” in Weslaco, Texas, playing cards, shuffle board tournaments and dancing the winter away. During the summer months, Kenneth was busy with yard work, gardening and woodworking projects for lawn and home.
Kenneth is survived by two children: Darrell (Norma) of Lobelville, TN and Carol (William) Gorder of Rochester, MN; grandchildren Stephanie (Cori) Peete of Memphis, TN, Roger Christeson of Bartlett, TN, Bruce (Traci) Gorder of Kenyon, MN, Leah (Terry) Dobson of Rochester, MN, and William (Justine) Gorder of Cincinnati, OH; great-grandchildren : Lyvia and Isaiah Peete, Devin and Garrett Christeson, Dustin Hebel and Valentina Gorder; great-great grandchild: Logan Hebel; Step-great-grandchildren: Randy, David, and Marisa Dohrmann, Travis (Kristen) Dobson, Brandon Dobson, Renae (Adan) Tapia, Anthony Lev, step-great-great grandchildren: Elizabeth Dohrmann and Diego Tapia; brothers: LeRoy (Libby) Christeson of Anderson, SC, Edward (Betty) Christeson of Clinton, MN; sister: Doris (Dr. Kenneth) Henry of Owatonna, MN, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Kenneth is preceded in death by his wife (Agnes), parents, 6 brothers and 3 sisters.
Kenneth was baptized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church in Clinton and was a life long member there. He attended country school west of Clinton, graduating from the 8th grade. He then stayed on at the family farm (which is now the Audrey Weinman farm on Hwy 75) to help with field work and the animals.
Kenneth was united in marriage to Agnes Carlson on June 30, 1941 in an outdoor ceremony at the Carlson farm three miles south of Clinton. They were blessed with 67 wonderful years together. After the wedding, they lived with Kenneth’s parents for a short time.and then moved to his brother Earl’s farm where they shared a house with Earl and Emma and another brother Elmer and his wife Catie. In 1942, they bought his Dad’s farm east of Clinton. They raised 2 children, Darrell Dean and Carol Dianne. In addition to his grain farming, Kenneth had milk cows, beef cattle and hogs. He also enjoyed selling Trojan seed corn, which allowed him to stay in contact with area farmers. Kenneth and Agnes continued to live on the farm until his retirement in 1982 when they moved to their newly built home in Clinton.
No stranger to hard physical labor, Kenneth told of the post holes he dug by hand so the Agralite coop could sink their first electric poles in this area. He was paid a whopping 35 cents an hour! Kenneth was always involved in his church and served on various boards and as an usher. He was a member of the Ortonville Toastmasters Club,and enjoyed the challenge of impromptu speech preparation. He also served on the school board at the rural school where his children attended elementary school until it closed in 1953.
Kenneth and Agnes enjoyed 28 years as “snow birds” in Weslaco, Texas, playing cards, shuffle board tournaments and dancing the winter away. During the summer months, Kenneth was busy with yard work, gardening and woodworking projects for lawn and home.
Kenneth is survived by two children: Darrell (Norma) of Lobelville, TN and Carol (William) Gorder of Rochester, MN; grandchildren Stephanie (Cori) Peete of Memphis, TN, Roger Christeson of Bartlett, TN, Bruce (Traci) Gorder of Kenyon, MN, Leah (Terry) Dobson of Rochester, MN, and William (Justine) Gorder of Cincinnati, OH; great-grandchildren : Lyvia and Isaiah Peete, Devin and Garrett Christeson, Dustin Hebel and Valentina Gorder; great-great grandchild: Logan Hebel; Step-great-grandchildren: Randy, David, and Marisa Dohrmann, Travis (Kristen) Dobson, Brandon Dobson, Renae (Adan) Tapia, Anthony Lev, step-great-great grandchildren: Elizabeth Dohrmann and Diego Tapia; brothers: LeRoy (Libby) Christeson of Anderson, SC, Edward (Betty) Christeson of Clinton, MN; sister: Doris (Dr. Kenneth) Henry of Owatonna, MN, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Kenneth is preceded in death by his wife (Agnes), parents, 6 brothers and 3 sisters.