---

Herb and Linda LeTourneau will lead this Sunday’s Ki-Chi-Saga Days parade, starting at 2 p.m., as Grand Marshals.

They have lived in the community since May 1972 (moving here from White Bear Lake, where they had both been raised and graduated from high school), and they have been local business owners (H & L Machine) since August 1975. They appreciated Chisago City from the start for its small-town atmosphere, they said.

Linda had relatives in the area, but Herb, coming from White Bear Lake, was stunned by just how small-town Chisago City seemed to be.

For part of the early ’70s before opening his own custom machine business, Herb drove to Minneapolis for a job at Gopher Machine Engineering. He recalls being surprised when he would drive back from work in 1972 and not be able to buy gas or any groceries anywhere in Chisago after 6 p.m.

But a small town allowed Herb and Linda to meet many people. And even though the community has grown into the type of place where one can buy gas or food well into the evening, Herb and Linda still know many people in the community thanks to the volunteer positions they have had. Linda has worked as a chiropractic assistant in the offices of Randy Johnson in Chisago City, and John Sauter in Lindstrom. Earlier, she worked seven years as a server at the Dinnerbel.

For volunteering in the community, Herb and Linda joined the Chisago City Booster Club in the 1970s. Linda started a local “Welcome Wagon” organization in 1973.

Early in the 1980s, Linda served two years as a Girl Scout troop leader. Later in the ’80s, and for a while into the ’90s, Herb served as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 127 (based at Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago, where the LeTourneaus have been members since moving to the community in 1972).

In recent years, they have welded and plated horseshoe nails in their shop to make crosses as pendants, as a special gift given to other members of their congregation on Good Friday.

Herb and Linda have two children, Kae (CLHS Class of 1989) and Mike (Class of 1992). When Kae joined Marching Band in high school, Herb and Linda became two of the band’s first parent assistants after Dave Hoehl became director.

Linda has also taught craft classes through the school district’s community education program, and she has served as an election judge.

But perhaps most notable among the community work for Herb or Linda is that Herb served 26 years with the city’s fire department. He became a 3rd assistant chief in 1973 after joining the department in 1972. He was 1st assistant chief from 1975 to 1988, and served as chief (succeeding Joe Todd) from 1988 to 1996.

For hobbies, Herb and Linda both enjoy gardening their property on Lofton Avenue. Linda’s grandparents formerly owned their property on Lofton, and the shop where Herb and Linda run H&L Machine was a former blacksmithing shop.

Linda enjoys sewing and quilting, and Herb enjoys car and tractor restoration. They are both members of the Minnesota Cushman Club (antique scooters) and Minnesota Wings North Metro club (Honda Goldwings).

Daughter Kae lives with her family in Brooklyn Park. Mike lives in Lindstrom. Mike works full-time with his parents in the family business.

“This was a quiet, rural community,” said Herb, reflecting on the growth that has occurred in the Chisago Lakes area. “Now, the hustle and bustle has moved into us. It’s still very quiet here, compared to other communities, but the little-town atmosphere has definitely changed.”

Linda added: “This is just a gorgeous area. It’s fun to be from a Swedish community.”

---