Pat & Kenny Lindgren
What we desire to give to at the end of our lives is most often a reflection of what we have spent our lives already giving to. The Lindgren family has chosen to honor their parents’ life of giving to Sacred Heart with the Pat and Kenny Lindgren Scholarship. We would like to highlight this scholarship and this beautiful couple today.
Pat and Kenny Lindgren both grew up in the East Grand Forks area. Pat was the oldest of 3 siblings. Kenny was the second oldest of 7 boys. The two met at Enright’s gas station and restaurant where Pat was working. They were married at Sacred Heart Church in 1961. He was her “rock” and she was his “right arm”. Together they had 4 daughters, Cynthia Koth, Maria Hill, Rebecca Johnk, and Melissa Bartak. Pat and Kenny were very proud of the home they created and the life they built together.
They were people who worked hard and loved to serve others. Their faith was strong. They both valued family, friends, their home life and spreading God’s love to those around them through their actions.
Pat attended Joseph’s School of Hair Design to become a stylist. She gave thousands of haircuts and perms at their kitchen table. She served lunch at Crestwood and South Point Elementary Schools for 28 years. Her hobbies brought her great joy. She always had multiple crocheting/knitting projects going on. The crocheting nickname “Happy Hooker” described her to a T. She made numerous hats, blankets and prayer shawls for the cancer center, pregnancy center and hospital NICU. Pat was also a member of the Sacred Heart Women’s Ministry and Threads of Love. She served lunches for funerals, sang in the church and funeral choirs.
At a young age, Kenny began working with his father and brothers on the family farm. Early in his career he worked as a welder at Sims Machine Shop. Next, he drove semi for Indianhead Truck Line. After his retirement, he worked for 10 years at McDonald’s Restaurant as a maintenance worker for his youngest daughter, Melissa. He also helped the Stocker family bring in the harvest for several years and he volunteered at the East Grand Forks Food Shelf. He was a hard worker with a kind and giving heart. He was happiest when he was helping others. He was the one to call if someone needed a ride to an appointment or something repaired. He loved his church and food shelf family as much as his own family. He happily donated his time, talents and money to both.
Pat and Kenny were awarded the Sacred Heart Lumen Christi award in 2022 for their outstanding service to the church. The family is continuing their legacy of service to Sacred Heart through a scholarship fund which will continue to serve and support the students of Sacred Heart for generations. Please prayerfully consider joining them with a gift to the Pat and Kenny Lindgren Scholarship fund today.