Coester Funeral Home
Leon J. "Lonnie" Vander Linden, 82, of Webster, SD passed away, February 3, 2021, at Bethesda Nursing Home in Webster. A private family funeral service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church. Livestream video will be provided at Coester Funeral Home's Facebook page at 10:30 on Saturday. Burial will be at the Webster Cemetery with military honors. A public visitation will be held Friday, February 5, 2021, 4-7 pm at Coester Funeral Home. The family respectfully asks that masks be worn and use social distancing.
Leon J. "Lonnie" Vander Linden was born August 2, 1938, to Leonard and Lula (Jacobson) Vander Linden in Webster, South Dakota. He was confirmed on October 4, 1953, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster. Lonnie attended Webster High School where he loved music, drama, sports, hunting and summers at Pickerel Lake. In 1956 he attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls where he played 1st chair in the Augie band and made the golf team. He then transferred to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, pledged Delta Tau Delta and graduated from USD in 1960.
Inspired by his WWI father, Lonnie's military career began in 1956 in the United States Naval Reserve and was sent to Great Lakes Navy Boot Camp. During college, he was in the US Naval and Marine Reserves. In 1960 he joined the United States Marine Corps and attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA, where he received a commission as Second Lieutenant and served stateside and overseas with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. He then returned to USD Graduate School for one semester then attended USD School of Law, fall 1964. He returned to Twenty-Ninth Palms, CA, for active duty in the USMC, earning his Captain's bars. In 1967 he graduated from the University Of South Dakota School Of Law earning his Juris Doctor.
Below the steps of the USD School of Law, Lonnie met and later married Donna Turner on March 5, 1966, during the Blizzard of '66 in Storm Lake, IA. Lonnie always said the best decision he ever made was to ask to carry her books.
Lonnie and Donna returned to Webster, where he associated with the Bicknell, Holland, Delaney Law Firm. After passing the SD Bar Exam, he was admitted to practice law before the South Dakota Supreme Court. January 1, 1969, he became a partner in the firm. The name then changed to Holland, Delaney and Vander Linden. He served as Day County Deputy Attorney and then States Attorney for 18 years, served as Webster City Attorney for 42 years. Lonnie was referred to as a country lawyer. His law career spanned 44 years, serving the public with the sole purpose of helping people until his retirement, August 1, 2011. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the SD Bar Association, the SD Trial Lawyers Association and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He loved serving the public, his country and never considered retiring.
Upon returning to Webster in 1967, Lonnie joined the South Dakota Army National Guard. He became Battery Commander of the 2ndBattalion, 147th Field Artillery. Lonnie's name will be forever associated with the 2nd Battalion and the men he trained and served, with the single goal of protecting this country. Under Lonnie's command, the 2nd BN 147th FA was the recipient of the Walter T. Kerwin Trophy. His units were awarded the Milton A. Reckord trophy for highest standard of training and readiness. Lonnie was in the SD Army National Guard for 22 years; his military career spanned 32 years, culminating in an honorable discharge in 1989 as a Colonel. He received numerous medals of accommodation and was the first Webster resident to command the 2nd BN 147th FA "Pride of the Dakotas."
A personal achievement of Lonnie's was to earn a private pilot's license in 1988 and was part of the Webster Flying Club.
Lonnie served his community as a life-long member of St. John's Lutheran Church, senior choir, President of St. John's Church Council, Bethesda Home Board, Masons, Shrine, American Legion, VFW, Jaycees, Kiwanis, Development Corporation, Chamber Board and Men's Golf Club. He was also the attorney for the original Board of Directors of the Museum of Wildlife, Science & Industry. In 2013 he was selected as Citizen of the Year by the Webster Area Chamber of Commerce.
For 50 plus years, Lonnie and Donna lived and worked in Webster. Despite Parkinson's, Lonnie fought the good fight.
Blessed to have shared his life are his wife Donna; daughter Jill (Allen) Hossley, children Lexi, Kaitlin and Hayden of Tyler, TX; Todd (Tricia) Vander Linden, children Abby and Kelsey of Webster, SD; Chris (Mallory) Vander Linden, children Landon, Lawson and Lincoln of Webster, SD and Goddaughter Emily Moody. He was preceded in death by his parents. A private family prayer service will be held on February 5, 2021 and a public visitation to be held the same day from 4-7pm at Coester Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to St. John's Building & Creating for the Future Campaign, Shriner's Children's Hospital or Bethesda Nursing Home.
"Old Marines never die, they just join the reserves. SEMPER FI"
Memorials may be directed to St. John's Building & Creating for the Future Campaign, Shriner's Children Hospital or Bethesda Nursing Home.
Arrangements have been entrusted with Coester Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Webster.
www.coesterfuneralhome.net
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