Law School Mourns the Passing of D. Kenneth Lindgren ’58

Derbin Kenneth Lindgren Jr. ’58, the last surviving founding partner of the Twin Cities law firm Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, died peacefully on Jan. 16 at the age of 86.

Lindgren grew up in Edina, Minnesota, attended high school at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, and earned both his undergraduate degree and J.D. at the University. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, he went into partnership with James Larkin ’54, Robert Hoffman ’55, and Jack Daly ’57, all of whom predeceased him. As an attorney, Lindgren specialized in trusts and estates as well as tax and business law; as a partner, he helped guide Larkin Hoffman to a position as one of Minnesota’s largest and best-known full-service business law firms, with more than 20 areas of practice.

Outside the office, Lindgren devoted himself to a number of community organizations, among them the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the University of Minnesota Founders Society. His generous support of the Law School goes back nearly 40 years.

Throughout his life, Lindgren enjoyed participating in sports, especially handball, skiing, golf, and tennis. He served twice as president of Interlachen Country Club in Minneapolis. He was an avid gardener, a collector of Native American art, and, with his late wife, Patricia, a traveler of the world.

“Ken was a great lawyer and an exceptional civic leader,” said Paul Smith, Larkin Hoffman president. “He will be dearly missed by his family, colleagues, friends and clients.”