Lundegaard, Christian Hans Age 62 of Richfield. His name was Chris and he was an alcoholic. He was 10 years sober and it seemed like his life was just beginning. Born in Minneapolis in 1961, the oldest child of Bob and Betty Lundegaard, he was a class clown with a photographic memory, and he put both to good use at shows at Children's Theatre Company and as one of the Procter children in the Guthrie Theater's 1974 production of "The Crucible." He was known in the family's south Minneapolis neighborhood for lining up kids and jumping over them - a la Evel Knievel - on his banana-seat bicycle. At Washburn High School, he was both wrestler and cheerleader, edited The Grist and sang as Shaun Cassidy in the talent show. After graduating in 1979, he became a manager at Trader Publications, then worked odd jobs at print stores and law firms. He became a father in 1988. He would still bring his big personality and competitive drive to family gatherings, but throughout these years, his alcoholism and life circumstances worsened.
On Aug. 19, 2013, Chris chose to turn his life around. He not only quit alcohol, he gave up smoking. He was a leader in his recovery group and became reliable and methodical in his life, calling his father at exactly 11:00 a.m. every Sunday and always making the weekly family Zoom calls, which continued post-pandemic. He worked steadily and played cribbage every weekend with his friend Bill. He scoured second-hand stores in south Minneapolis for old CDs and DVDs. He found joy in the simple things in life and was a ray of hope for anyone who has dealt with an alcoholic loved one. He became an amazing uncle, teaching his nephews the important things in life: the Beatles, the Marx Brothers, and "The Simpsons," and imitated them all to a tee (his Grandpa Simpson and Comic Book Guy were particularly memorable.) Chris loved disc golf, sunsets from the patio on his 8th floor condo, Danish pancakes, Hope's On Penn, music - from Black Sabbath to the Minnesota Orchestra - "Seinfeld," old movies, and the holidays. A few months ago, he received his 10-year chip and paid off the mortgage on his condo. He was beginning to travel. After his murder the night before Thanksgiving, his family found, in his condo, a stack of Christmas cards, addressed and stamped and ready to be mailed.
He is survived by son Casey Riebe (fiancée Anne Musselman) and granddaughters Amelia and Birdie Riebe of Litchfield; father Bob Lundegaard (Ingrid Sundstrom) of Eden Prairie, brother Erik Lundegaard (Patricia Bradbury) of Seattle, sister Karen Lundegaard (Eric Muschler) and nephews Jordan and Ryan Muschler, of Minneapolis. A memorial service will be held December 27 at 1 p.m. at Lakewood Cemetery Memorial Chapel, Minneapolis. The family is planning a memorial bench in one of his happy places. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent via Venmo to @Erik-Lundegaard or A Bench for Chris/c/o The Lundegaards, 7011 Edenvale Blvd., Eden Prairie, Minn. 55346.
Published on December 24, 2023
