Funeral services for Milton Louis Kennedy, age 87, of Albert Lea, will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 22, at the Hayward Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Malm will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery.Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Milton died Monday, April 18, 2005, with his family by his side at the Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital in St. Paul.

He was born Jan. 13, 1917, to Leslie and Ada (Flanagan) Kennedy in Albert Lea. On Dec. 26, 1937, he married Berget Savik in Springfield, Mo., where he was working for the railroad. The couple moved to Evanston, Wyo., and in June of 1938, returned to Albert Lea. Milt worked for a time for RILCO Co. and Nelson Fur Farm. During those years, he started his own herds of mink and fox, and ran his own mink ranch from 1955 to 1977, 20 years in the Hayward area and later years in the Manchester area. He was proud of the quality and many color varieties of mink he produced.

Milt served on the board of the Hayward Township, the Hayward Lutheran Council and other organizations. In later years, his life centered around family, fishing, and swapping stories with many friends, and numerous trips to Big Island to enjoy his love of plants and animals. His tales of animal stories delighted his grandchildren.

Even though Parkinson’s and dementia stole the quality of Milt’s life in his last years, he remained very positive and still was able to enjoy visits of family and friends.

He will be greatly missed by his daughters and sons-in-law: Ruthann and Keith Meland of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jeanne and Nick Schermer of Hayward; grandchildren: Carter (Sally) Meland, Sarah Meland, Kelly (Todd) Schermer-Maass, Gavin (Theresa) Meland, and Chris Schermer; and six great-grandchildren.

Milt was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Berget, in 1975; his brothers: William, Lawrence (Pat), and Fant (Bud); and his sisters: Louise Lee and Clara Brown.

The family thanks those who faithfully cared for Milt at Thorne Crest Retirement Center and special relative and friend, Kenwood Bertelson. Memorials are preferred to Parkinson’s research or Hayward Lutheran Church.