Obituary: Kenneth Tordsen

Kenneth was born in Rost Township, Jackson County, Minnesota, on August 16, 1923, to Louie and Lizzie (Frodermann) Tordsen. Kenneth passed away on January 30, 2012, at Country View Manor, in Sibley, Iowa.

Kenny attended country school in Rost Township and graduated from Lakefield High School in 1941. He joined the Army in 1942 and served in the 41st Infantry Division serving in New Guinea, the Philippines’ and Japan.

Kenneth and Joyce Reed were married on September 12, 1946. They started their married life west of Lakefield, Minnesota, where they farmed for a year, then moved to the farm on the northeast edge of Round Lake where he resided until moving into Country View Manor in March of 2011. Over the years, Kenny raised chickens, sheep, pigs, cow/calves, and feeder cattle…there was never an animal that Kenny couldn’t make into a pet. He was active in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives. Kenneth was a talented roller skater and tennis player in his youth, activities which he passed on to his children and grandchildren. Every summer there was sweet corn to be raised and sold door to door…first with his children and then with his grandchildren. Winter meant freezing an ice rink for the neighborhood kids to skate on. The grandkids remember Grandpa taking them for rides in the hood of the old Buick pulled behind the tractor. Many hours were spent scavenging for parts with his grandchildren and then creating wagons, tricycles, bicycles, swings and forts from the parts. He considered his grandchildren and great grandchildren as an added bonus to his life.

Kenny and Joyce were charter members of the Lakefield VFW. Kenneth was active on the Round Lake elevator board for several years, was a 4-H leader, was a member of the American Legion Charles Flentje Post 461 and has served as post commander and second district adjutant.

Kenneth is survived by Joyce, his wife of 65 years, his sons, Craig (Mary Ann Morin) Tordsen of Sioux City, Iowa, and Keith Tordsen of Round Lake; his daughter, Robyn (Dale) Wilson of Ocheyedan, Iowa; his grandchildren, Jill Tordsen of Oakland, California; Colin Tordsen of Florida, Zach (Holly Benton) Wilson and their son Dale of Ocheyedan, Iowa, Sanna (Paul) Heitritter and their son Braxton of Ocheyedan, Iowa, and Kaia (Seth) Darling and their son Colby of Round Lake, Minnesota.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Louie and Lizzie, brother, Lester Tordsen and sister, Madelyn Roesner and an infant brother and sister.

A celebration of life service for Kenneth Irl Tordsen will take place on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home Chapel in Worthington, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to Dollars for Scholars at the Round Lake Public School or a charity of your choice.

Tags: kenneth tordsen, obituaries

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