Kenneth Richard Lahti

Kenneth Richard Lahti

Kenneth Richard Lahti, 90, formerly of Eveleth, Minnesota, passed away peacefully in Grand Rapids, Minn., on May 30, 2025, surrounded by his children.

Born November 3, 1934 in Moose Lake, Minn., Ken was the oldest son of Richard Lahti and Irene Walitalo Johnson. Ken grew up speaking both Finnish and English on farms in Kettle River and Mahtowa and graduated from Floodwood High School in 1952. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1956 from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, concentrating in history. After graduating, Ken was stationed with the Army at Fort Riley, Kansas before beginning a decades-long career as teacher, coach, and counselor.

While at Concordia, Ken met his wife of 67 years, Frances Aamodt Lahti. They married on December 22, 1957 and honeymooned in Ken's beloved northern Minnesota, a region that would be the setting for most of their lives. An avid outdoorsman, Ken loved the lakes and forests of the Boundary Waters and eagerly introduced them not only to Fran but also to his children and grandchildren. He loved winter and summer, Nordic skiing and canoeing, verdant forest and lonely swamp. Ken and Fran cherished the waters and woods of their cabin property on Lake Vermilion, and made "the cabin" a place of deep connection and enduring memories for their family and friends.

Throughout his life Ken was deeply engaged with Finnish language and culture. He reveled in recounting stories from his personal travels in Finland, from Finland's poem Kalevala, and from the heroic battles of Finnish history. Ken was an eager advocate for Finnish-American traditions, participating in the Knights of Kaleva and Finnish Americans and Friends as well as serving as a strategic fund-raiser for Salolampi Finnish Language Village and later serving as Salolampi Foundation president. It was Ken's joy to help all his grandchildren attend the language village as campers and prospective cultural ambassadors. His Finnish friends were a great treasure to him.

Ken's earnest leadership and compassionate service displayed themselves in his wide range of interests and activities. Professionally, Ken advocated for strong job-specific training across multiple industrial disciplines in his role as director of financial aid and counseling at Eveleth Vocational College. He was passionate about good government, good citizenship, and justice. A lover of the arts, Ken joined his wife Fran in promoting music concerts across the Iron Range. A lover of sport, Ken took up curling on ice with enthusiasm. Ken was also a faithful member of the church, serving on Lutheran parish councils and teaching Sunday School and confirmation.

Ken was a kind and vibrant man, imbued with a high romanticism formed by the beauty of creation. He had a poet's heart and a story-teller's twinkle in his eye. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren with a keenness, charm, and affection that endeared him to all. Ken died in the assurance of the love of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ken is preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother Rueben, and his beloved wife Fran (d. January 22, 2025).

Ken is survived by his children Steven Lahti (Paula), Lori Lahti Goetz (Doug), Lynn Lahti Hommeyer (Tom), Lisa Lahti Wyland (Gerry), Jon Lahti; grandchildren Erik (Autumn), Kai (Danielle), Anne (Derek), Berit (Jamie), Jon (Erica), Ingrid (Kyler), Lucia, Liv, Liisa, Leif, Sven, and Stieg; and great-grandchildren Leena, Liam, Lira, Sophia, Lillian, and Eila. Ken is also survived by his siblings Eldon Lahti, John Lahti, Susan Chamberlin, Mary Rettig, Jim Johnson, and Rachel Johnson.

A joint service of Christian burial will be held for Ken and Fran on Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m. at United in Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth. Memorials in honor of Ken may be made to United in Christ Lutheran Church or Salolampi Finnish Language Village. The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Croix Hospice along with the staff of the Pillars of Grand Rapids for their kind and skillful care of Ken.