Kindems celebrate 65th anniversary

The Kindems of Apple Valley, Minnesota, were married at St. John Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minnesota, on June 8, 1953.

Roald was born to Ingvald and Anna Kindem in Northfield, Minnesota. Shirley was born to “Tiny” and Ethel Johnson in Morris, Minnesota. They both graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1951 and fell in love the summer after graduating from college.

Sharing an interest in travel, music and a life of service to others, Roald and Shirley have also both been involved in various ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America over the past six decades. For the last 22 years, starting in July of 1995, they have orchestrated a bi-annual week long family reunion, including all of their children with spouses and their 19 grandchildren. These reunions have taken place in Whitefish where Roald had begun his pastoral ministry at Christ Lutheran Church in 1955.

They have eight children: Randi (Albert) Siu, of Carlisle, Massachusetts; Peter (Gabrielle) Dion-Kindem, of Agoura Hills, California; Erik (Christine) Kindem, of Seattle; Kari (Thomas), of San Jose, California; Kristofer Kindem, of Eagan, Minnesota; Mark (Miriam) Kindem, of Bemidji, Minnesota; Mikal (Diane, deceased) Kindem, of Blaine, Minnesota; and Joel (Susan) Kindem, of San Diego.

Their 19 grandchildren include: Maren Siu, Jacob (Maryel) Kindem, Lars (Stephanie) Kindem, Anneliese Dion-Kindem, Soren Dion-Kindem, Nathan Peterson-Kindem (Dehydra Dennis-Weiss), Megan (Tyler) Webber, Kai Kindem, Naomi Kindem, Lukas Swidler, Kirsten Swidler, Jonathan Kindem, Stephen Kindem, Daniel Kindem, Sarah (James) McKeown, Cole Kindem, Matthew Kindem, Noah Kindem and Harleigh Kindem.