Don was born on March 1, 1933 to LeRoy and Fern Lindeman. He grew up on a farm in Woodbury and attended Harding High School in St. Paul. He served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955. Upon his return, he married Evelyn Lindstrom on May 28, 1955. They first resided in a historic home in Woodbury, which was recently known as the McHattie Tea House. They eventually built a new home also located in Woodbury. Together they had 4 children, Sandra, Janice, Susan and David. He lost his wife Evelyn to cancer in 1996.
He then married Cheryl (Boese) Tuley on July 2, 1999 who was a fellow member at St. John Lutheran Church. Don became a father figure and friend to her son, Todd.
Don began his banking career at First National Bank of St. Paul in 1951 and eventually became the V.P. of Correspondent Banking. He retired in 1985 and began work at American National Bank of St. Paul where he also became the V.P. of Correspondent Banking until 1990. Don was actively involved in A.I.B. (American Institute of Banking) and served as President 1970-71. The family planned many of their vacations around the A.I.B. conventions and also remembers many holiday concerts at First National Bank where Don was a member of the male chorus.
Don led a full life of service to his church, family and community. He was an active life time member of St. John Lutheran in Woodbury and he held several positions including President, Elder, Treasurer, Usher, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He served as a volunteer for Woodbury 4-H Club, Junior Achievement and AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans). He worked as an assistant to the Treasurer at the MN State Fair for several summers. Don also served as a member of the St. Paul Board of Regents at Concordia University from 1991 to 2000, serving the last year as the Chair. He supported Lutheran Hour Ministries through various leadership roles in the St. Paul Zone of LLL (Lutheran Laymen’s League) and he was the District President for MN South in the late 90’s. Don served as an election judge in the Woodbury community and was a board member for the Woodbury Heritage Society for many years just resigning in 2017.
Don spent many summers playing ball for the 1st Bank Fast Pitch team as well as Twin Point Tavern in Lake Elmo. In his later years, Don enjoyed spending time at his lake home on Big McKenzie Lake in Spooner, WI. During his high school years, he played hockey for Harding High School and continued his love for the game in an old timer’s league for many years. Don was a season ticket holder for MN Golden Gopher Hockey and enjoyed attending home games for several decades.
Don was very social and had a gift for striking up a conversation with anyone he met. He had a wonderful smile, a great sense of humor and his laughter was contagious. He was kind, compassionate and extremely loyal to his family and friends. He will be missed by many.
Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn Lindeman and his stepson, Todd Tuley.
Don is survived by his wife, Cheryl; his daughters, Sandra (Mark) Kovatch, Janice (Alan) Sickbert, Susan (Dan) Cederstrom; his son, David (Yvonne Lund); stepdaughter, Teresa Shepard; grandchildren, Nicholas Kovatch, Samantha (Dan) Mork, Nathan Kovatch, Kendall (Cameron) Sexe, Taryn Cederstrom, Hannah Cederstrom, Benjamin Cederstrom; brother, Gerald (Muriel), sister-in-law, Judith (Tom) Seabold, brothers-in-law, John Linn and Donald (Terri) Boese; nieces, nephews and many other family members and friends.
The visitation will be held at Wulff Woodbury Funeral Home, 2195 Woodlane Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125 on Thursday, June 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be Friday, June 29 at St. John Lutheran Church, 1975 St. Johns Drive, Woodbury, MN 55129 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior and luncheon to follow.
Memorials are preferred to St. John Lutheran Church, Lutheran Hour Ministries or Woodbury Heritage Society.
