Don Kirkeide, age 83, of Canby, MN passed away Monday, October 19, 2020 at the Sylvan Nursing Home in Canby. Memorial Service will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2020 at Our Saviours Lutheran Church, Canby, MN. Visitation will be Friday, October 23rd from 4 – 7 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel, Canby. Burial will be in the Canby City Cemetery, Canby. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Donald Andrew Kirkeide was born June 4, 1937 to Andrew and Mildred (Brandt) Kirkeide in Brush Creek, Faribault County, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Faith where he grew up in Easton, MN. Don attended Country School and High School at Wells-Easton. He began boxing at the age of 12 with a winning record of 40-4 and a Golden Glove victory at age 15. After a hunting accident blinded him for months he dropped out of school. At 17 he joined the Navy for four years, and was stationed in Bermuda, where he then also completed his GED. He then settled in Canby, MN and worked for Wicks Construction and later became a carpet layer for Voight and Livingston. On October 29th, 1960 he married Muriel Olson, and to this union four children were born. In 1970, Don became a freelance carpet layer and was well known throughout the Canby and surrounding communities. Don and Muriel enjoyed dancing together and raised their children on a hobby farm with many different animals. They also opened a group home for troubled teenagers for 12 years. During this time, Don went back to school and in 1984 graduated from Southwest State University in Marshall with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Muriel passed away on March 4th, 1999. He then married Evelyn Knutson on August 20th, 2005, they parted ways approximately 10 years later. Don was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Canby, where he served on the Board of Education and taught Sunday School. He also served on the Yellow Medicine County Board of Community Action. His hobbies included fishing, golfing, camping and dancing. He was known for double-step dancing and many of his dancing partners couldn’t keep up with him. Later in life, he enjoyed attending the events of his grand and great grandchildren and listening to country music records. He enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. He loved to share his stories and escapades of growing up, his boxing days and his time in Bermuda.
Don is survived by his four children: Holly (Larry) Forseth, Amber (Mitch) Groen, April (Don) Geier and Shawn (Shannon) Kirkeide; brothers: Duane (Elaine) Kirkeide and Allen (Trish) Kirkeide; 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Muriel, his parents Andrew and Mildred; sisters: Donna, Joan, Shirley and Mary and brothers: Edward and Steve.
