Lester Rydeen, a longtime farmer in May Township and former town board and county board official has died.

Rydeen died Thursday, Jan. 27 at a health care center in Stillwater. He was 86.

Rydeen spent most of his life working the family dairy farm in Washington County. A native of St. Paul, he went to work on the farm full-time following service during World War II with the Armyís 34th Infantry Division.

He dedicated more than 30 years of his life to public service.

Rydeen logged 28 years on the May Town Board and served as a Washington County Commissioner from northern Washington County for four years. His one term on the county board was from 1980 to 1984.

In his post-government years, Rydeen devoted his time and work to the family dairy farm. He was a member of state and national Holstein cattle associations.

He was a member of American Legion Post 48 and VFW Post 323, both in Stillwater. He was also a member of the Stillwater Rotary Club.

A funeral service for Lester E. Rydeen was Tuesday, Feb. 1 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Stillwater.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Phyllis; daughters Judy Edstrom and Susan (Charles) Howe of Ridgeland, WI, and Sandra (James) Holcomb, Scandia; sons Gary Rydeen, May Township, and Brian (Janice) Rydeen, Marine on St. Croix; brothers Walter (Bette) Rydeen and Edward (Elsie) Rydeen; and sister Marion (Edward) Neuman; grandchildren; great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

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