Ken passed away Monday evening, Dec. 21, 2020, due to complications of COPD and congestive heart failure, surrounded by his family at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minn. Memorials are preferred to Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont, Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont, or the donor’s choice. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Kenneth Lee Scheef was born Nov. 20, 1935, on his parent’s farm in Fraser Township, Martin County, Minn., to Louis and Edna (Meyer) Scheef. His family moved to Sherburn and then in 1940 they moved to Fairmont. He attended Fairmont Public Schools and graduated from high school in 1953. In 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Johnson, at the East Chain Lutheran Church. They made their home in Fairmont and were members of Grace Lutheran Church. The couple was blessed with four daughters, Kathy, Kris, Liz and Jenny. Ken was a workaholic starting with the largest Sentinel paper route at age 8 until age 12. Then he had many other jobs during his teens. In 1950, he began working for Hyde Typewriter Company, where he eventually worked his way up to salesman at the age of 17 when he began his career selling office equipment and supplies around eight counties in southern MN. In 1985, he joined with three others to form their own company called Modern Office Machines. They eventually sold this company to River Bend Business Products in 2001 and he continued to sell for them until his retirement in 2003. Ken and Barb enjoyed a number of vacations to Germany, Hawaii, Jamaica, Acapulco and several other trips as a family. As a couple, they thoroughly enjoyed dancing at every chance they got. Ken was an avid hunter and fisherman. Barb was always his favorite fishing partner. They spent many vacations on Leech Lake and on occasion, the entire family would join in on the fun. In 1970, they purchased a lake lot on the south end of Hall Lake which became their family playground. Ken’s hunting passion took him and his buddies on many big game hunts in Martin County, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Northern MN and Ontario, Canada. He was also active in his community including the Jaycees, Lions Club, Chain of Lakes Yacht Club and the original City of Lake’s Commission where he served as chairman. Ken served for nine years on the Lakeside Cemetery Board, as well as the treasurer of the Fairmont Rifle and Pistol Club. He was a member of the Cardinal Flying Club where he achieved his private pilot’s license in 1962.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 66 years, Barbara Scheef of Fairmont; daughters, Kathy (Jim) Harley of Fairmont, Kris (Hoot) Armstrong of Truman, Liz (Brad) Hartke of Fairmont, and Jenny (Dr. Mike) Puumala of Sioux Falls, S.D.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Emily (Bob) Bohlke and children, Reed, Ruby and Rexton of Mankato, Daniel (Renee) Harley and son, Elias of Windom, Jacob (Sierra) Hartke and daughter, Haevyn of Fairmont, David, Tyler, Kevin and Laura Hartke all of Fairmont, Eric and Daniel Puumala of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sisters, Lois Kesler of Fairmont, and Cheryl (Richard) Townsend of Aurora, Ore.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lucille Hagberg of Faribault, Dewey and Ardyce Nelson of St. Paul, and Clayton and Carol Johnson of Milltown, Wis.; many nieces, nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Edna Scheef; father and mother-in-law, Henry and Irene Johnson; brother, Allen Scheef; and brother and sisters-in-law, Norman and Connie Jensen, Mylo Hagberg, Jane Scheef and Ray Kesler. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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