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Sylvan Smith Vander Linden of Crystal, Minnesota passed away May 21, 2011.

He was born on October 20, 1916 in Corsica, South Dakota. He is survived by four children, Susan (David) McElwey of Yorktown, Virginia; Sally Rajamaki of Park City, Utah; James (Susan) Vander Linden of Golden Valley, Minnesota and Barbara Muckle Schmidt (Dick) of Dresser, Wisconsin. 

"Van" had seven grandchildren, Bonnie Snodgrass (Randy) of Williamsburg, Virginia, Sally Zhou (Joe) of Loveland, Colorado, Benjamin Rajamaki of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Blair Rajamaki of Leavenworth, Washington; Britta Joslyn (John Paul) of Park City, Utah; Jack Vander Linden of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and Charles Vander Linden of Golden Valley, Minnesota.  As a family, we will be certain that his nine great grandchildren remember what a wonderful man he was.  They are Bradd and Aiden Snodgrass, Anna and Isaac Vander Linden, (Ethan Butler) and Zoey Zhou (Autumn, Evan and Damian Zhou).  Van is also survived by his brother, Leroy Vander Linden of Bismarck, North Dakota.  Van's sister, Marylois Mosterd of Corsica, South Dakota predeceased him in 2004.

Van worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for over 40 years. He was married to his dear wife, Gladys for over 63 years. She passed away in 2006.  They lived in South Minneapolis and Lindstrom, Minnesota, where he was a very active member of the Chisago Lakes Lions Club. Van served in the Army Air Corp in the South Pacific during WWII.

A private graveside internment will take place May 31, 2011.  A celebration of his life will take place at a later date. Donations in his memory can be made to the Chisago Lakes Lions Club. Arrangements by the Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom. Condolences may be left online at www.grandstrandfh.com.

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