Sidney Clarence Lindeke

Sidney Clarence Lindeke

Sidney Clarence Lindeke

December 4, 1926 — November 12, 2022

Born in St. Paul, MN to Raymond and Clara Lindeke. At two, the family moved from St. Paul, MN to Seattle. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1945. Sidney worked as a Steward on the recommissioned warships he had previously served on which then carried passengers and cargo to Alaska through the Inside Passage. He earned an associated degree in the Bible at Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Oregon.

Sidney came to Alaska in 1949 to work at the Lazy Mountain Children’s home where he met his future wife, Margaret Lydia McElhinny, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. They married in 1951 in Palmer. Their four children are Nathan Philip Lindeke, Lydia Grace (Wood), Priscilla Joy (Brown) and Daniel Guy Lindeke.

He had a motto, “Don’t ride if you can walk, and don’t walk if you can run.” Visiting children’s home graduates said they always knew Uncle Sid loved them.

In 1972 Sidney and Margaret obtained a foster license and kept the four McCarlo children- Amel, Olga, Nick and Susan. They taught Sunday School at Lazy Mtn. Bible Church for 23 years. Sidney hiked to the Pioneer Home in Palmer once a month to lead the residents and visitors in singing hymns. Sidney continued milking cows for farms in the Valley.

Sidney walked Wolverine Road, waving to the traffic that passed him. He took the Honor Flight to Washington, DC to visit the War Memorial. He was given a quilt of valor, and when the band played the national anthem, he stood from his wheelchair and sang.

Sidney is survived by two of his children, Nathan Lindeke and Lydia Wood; two siblings, Donna Rennick (101) and Frank Lindeke (94).

A memorial service will be held at Lazy Mtn. Bible Church on December 5, 2022 at 5 pm.