Lynda

Lynda Marian Tidemann Minnick, age 88, of Wayzata, passed away April 25, 2026. Lynda graduated from Hopkins High School and Gustavus Adolphus College. In 1960 she married Rev. Paul A. Tidemann and began her lifelong journey as mother, teacher, singer, world traveler and gardener. Lynda taught elementary school and directed many choirs at All Saints Lutheran Church in Mason, Michigan and Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Niles, Illinois. In 1974 the family accepted a call from the Lutheran Church in America to serve as missionaries in Guyana, South America. There Lynda developed a 50 voice choir, the Guyana Youthsingers, who performed in Guyana, Trinidad and a month long Journey in Mission from Guyana to the United States. Back in the US in l978, Lynda taught school and later became an Associate in Ministry at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul. In l988 she accepted a position in the Global Department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Chicago. She became Program Director for East Africa, Papua New Guinea, and the South Pacific, traveling regularly to those locations. She was an active board member for many years in Friends of Mwangaza,(now Lutheran Partners in Global Mission), an organization in Tanzania that partners with schools and communities to create safe learning spaces. In 1995 she married Rev. Malcolm (Mac) Minnick in Chicago. Lynda retired in 2002, providing time for her favorite pastime, gardening. She completed the Master Gardener program at the Chicago Botanic Garden. In 2015, Lynda and Mac moved to Folkestone in Wayzata. Lynda continued to be a volunteer gardener, sang in two choirs, and was known by many for her 3 mile daily walks. Lynda is survived by son Peter Tidemann and his partner Janean Byler, son Christopher Tidemann, sister Connie Toavs, niece Kari (Max) Parsons, and nephew Kyle (Jennifer) Toavs and families. She was preceded in death by her husband Mac and his daughter Ellen Wentzel in 2025. She is also survived by Mac's children, Kathy (Frank Karpiel), Mark and Jeff Minnick. Funeral service will be held at Central Lutheran Church, 333 S. 12th St., Minneapolis, May 19th, at 11 AM. Visitation will begin at 10 am, with luncheon to follow. See centralmpls.org for livestream, and parking information. Memorials preferred to ELCA World Hunger or to Lutheran Partners in Ministry (lutheranpartners.org) designated to Friends of Mwangaza. www.washburn-mcreavy.com Hopkins Chapel 952-938-9020

Lynda

May 9, 1937 - April 25, 2026

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