Sharon K. Lind
June 8, 1945 ~ May 21, 2020
Sharon K. Lind, 74, died after a year-long battle with cancer on May 21, 2020, at her daughter Tahni’s family home in Minnesota where she has been residing for the past year. She was born on June 8, 1945, at Mobridge Regional Hospital in Mobridge, SD, the daughter of Russell and Mary Anderson and one of six siblings.
Sharon graduated from Timber Lake High School, class of 1962. Following graduation, she married her high school sweetheart (they were homecoming king and queen), Kenneth D. Dikoff. They were married for 38 years until his passing in 1999 in Timber Lake, having spent several winters in Phoenix, AZ with their sons’ families. They parented three children, Kenneth (Dean) Jr., Shane, and Tahni, and had four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Sharon was a librarian for a time after graduation until she became the youngest-ever elected county treasurer in the state of South Dakota for Dewey County. The family then moved in 1977 from Timber Lake, SD to Gillette, WY where Sharon continued as a secretary/bookkeeper until she ignited her artistic passion, creatively expressing herself through oil painting, sewing award-winning dolls, making handcrafted wooden gifts, and launching into entrepreneurship of various craft fair and gift shop ventures including Green Tree Creations. She moved back to her hometown of Timber Lake in 1990 to begin the gift store, The Prairie Rose. She also had a store called Heartstrings & Angelwings.
Sharon married Leonard Lind (deceased) and later married Edward Lind of Omak, Washington. She moved to Washington for 10 years where she became grandma to Ed’s grandchildren and enfolded into his family and community. She opened a final gift store and cafe there in partnership with her sister called Peace Cafe.
Sharon was well known as a woman of deep faith and ever-ready prayer. She had the open ears to listen and the open arms to love just about anybody who crossed her path in need of a friend and confidante. Her lips were always filled with praise, her wisdom always given in humility, and her vision always raised up above life’s difficult circumstances. She was a minister without a title and Bible teacher to probably thousands in her lifetime. When asked what she might want on her headstone, she simply said it all: “She listened to their hearts.”
In addition to her parents and her Auntie, she was preceded in death by brothers, Gordon and Richard; husbands, Ken, Leonard and Ed; son, Kenneth Dean. Surviving are her son, Shane of Surprise, AZ; daughter Tahni (Joe) Cullen of Hugo, MN, and their families; brothers, Boyd and John Anderson; sister, Rosannah Stone, and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, August 8 at Wild Prairie Lodge, 25914 BIA 3, Whitehorse, SD, 18 miles east of Timber Lake. In lieu of flowers, the family will make a memorial cash donation to Timber Lake Historical Society and Museum. Cards may be sent to: Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 SW Centennial Dr., Forest Lake, MN 55025
Sharon was the first person who blessed me with the gift of truly hearing my heart. She taught me the integrity of God’s Word, the Bible, and prayed through many an adventure and a heartache with me. Truly a great blessing and gift of God in my life!
Sharon was so talented and very patiently taught me tole painting. I loved her sense of humor and gentle kindness. She was truly devout and devoted to Jesus.
During my husbands and my 7-month-home-reconstruction-stay at the Best Western Hotel I spent a lot of time walking the sidewalks in downtown Omak. I loved it. So many people to love and pray with during those months. . . but none more precious than Sharon K. Lind. I remember her testimony regarding one of her most life-changing experiences as a young Christian. It was a women’s Bible Study — she was the young one amidst a group of older women. Part of what she learned, she told me many stories, and quoted many scriptures that had changed her life. She mourned having lost the book they had studied. I wanted to know what she knew! . . . so I searched till I found the book — took it to her — she cried for the love of it — and an airtight, God-wrought kinship was born that day in the corner store in Omak where she worked. We had 7 wonderful months of trustful prayers together. I prayed for her children and grandchildren. She prayed for mine. We looked forward to doing a Bible Study together when she returned to Omak. Sharon knew the scriptures~ They rolled off her tongue like honey. They weren’t ‘mottos’ . . . and were rarely one of the ‘often quoted ones. They were the deep and quiet ones. Those ‘Fit’ for the situation. I always walked away exhorted and encouraged, having been with Sharon. She told me about the Dr. who had given her a dire diagnosis. She refused to yield to the Dr., preferring to yield her life and times to God Himself. She way outlived her Dr.’s ominous words — and never lost a moment in believing that God was in His heaven and “does all things well.” She trusted Him with every thought and fiber of her being. She loved Him above all. I miss you, Sharon K Lind. I thank God for my broken ice-maker that sent me to the hotel that allowed me to meet you on the sidewalk on the corner in Omak. Spiritual sisters, we are — so, count on this: I’ll meet you in the morning over there . . . Loving you, Sandy Bessire