Kenneth "Kenny" Richard Pesta

Kenny Pesta, passed away peacefully at the Meadow Place Assisted Living in Long Prairie, early Thursday morning, March 16, 2023. The good man was 86 years young.

A funeral service will take place on Monday, March 27, 2023, at the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Clarissa at 11:00 AM. Visitation will take place on Sunday, March 26, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the church and will continue the day of the funeral one-hour prior, also at the church. Burial will take place at the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.

Kenneth Richard Pesta was born on February 16, 1937, the son of Frank and Ragnhild (Grandland) Pesta of Iona Township. Kenneth soon became Kenny. He attended grade school in rural Todd County. As a very young adult, Kenny moved to the twin cities where he started working at the airport at Holman Field. He later moved back closer to home and worked at the Clotho Creamery. He eventually met the love of his life Jeannette Line. Kenny and Jeanette purchased a home in town after they got married. They later acquired a farm in rural Clarissa. They continued to live in town but would drive out to the farm daily where they would milk cows, work the land and create a lifetime of memories together. The young couple was blessed with two sons, Richard and Bryan.  His sons remember getting woken up in the mornings and being reminded that they were wasting good daylight to work at the farm.

 For many years Kenny volunteered on the Clarissa Fire Department, while he worked during the day traveling the countryside selling dairy equipment. He later obtained his real estate license, helping people find a house or land, that they would turn into a home. He sat on the board for many years of the Todd County Soil and Water. The Pesta’s also had a house in town, his sons remember getting woken up in the mornings and being reminded that they were wasting good daylight to work at the farm. Closer to retirement, Kenny took a job for the state of Minnesota as a stationary Engineer. No matter what job Kenny had, he used his work ethic and friendly demeanor to make relationships with people that would last well beyond his working years.

Kenny’s hobby was his family farm. As a family, they spent countless hours there together.  It was his sanctuary-He loved it! He enjoyed working with his hands, mowing the lawn, tending to the fence, and watching God’s work. For him, the only thing better to drive than a Buick Park Avenue was a John Deere tractor.

Kenny was a sentimental man, who loved his family and had strong values. He and Jeanette in their downtime would volunteer to drive for Todd County Social Services. The passengers were well taken care of. The Pesta’s always made time to make sure everyone got a full stomach and an overflowing heart and mind of goal setting, dreaming, and empathy. He was not shy of sharing his opinions as to what the passengers could obtain or could work on.

 As a couple Kenny and Jeannette were social bees, they knew everyone and only met someone once as a stranger but left as a friend. Kenny persevered through many things in life and cared for his wife with such love and gentleness. He always said and felt, “I’m in Good Shape”, this mindset was a flame in his heart that kept him going.

The good Kenny Pesta, passed away on March 16, 2023, with his family by his side at Meadow Place Assisted Living. Kenny was 86 years young. He leaves behind his loving wife, Jeanette; children, Rich (Sally) Pesta, Bryan (Tanya) Pesta; grandchildren: Caitlyn Pesta, Thomas (Bree) Pesta, Brittany Pesta, Brandon Pesta, and Alec Pesta; great-grandchildren: Kayleigh Brynn and Thomas; siblings: Ivan Pesta, Glenn “Jake” (Neva) Pesta, Gloria (Duane) Drevlow; and Sisters-in-law: Betty Pesta and Connie Pesta.

He was joined in heaven by his parents; Siblings: Clarence (Bea) Pesta, Richie Pesta, Franke Pesta, Hanley (Lea) Pesta, Raymond Pesta, and Ruth (Ellis) McKinley; sister-in-law, Shirley Pesta.

A special thank you to Dr, Samuel Burns, and Dr. Eldidy, for your open and gentle bedside matter in caring for Kenny. You are a true gift to our community. To Brent Line, Jacqueline Meiners, Cory Pesta, Mike Pesta, and Amy Pavek, Dean Meiners you have been a true blessing to the Pesta Family and helping to look in on Mom and Dad. To the staff of Meadow Place Assisted Living thank you for giving such great care and a new home for our parents. Kali Christensen, our parents watched you grow up, you then watched us grow up and we have been a part of each other’s families for decades. Thank you for your years of friendship and care to our family.

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