Lynn Dean Tienter passed away on January 22, 2026, at Spring Valley Living in Spring Valley, Minn. Lynn was born on November 12, 1952 to Vernon and Leila (Bremseth) Tienter. He grew up on his family’s farm in Southeast Minnesota and graduated from Preston High School. In 1979 he married Roxie Wendt, and together they raised three children. The couple divorced in 2023.
Lynn was a general contractor and farmer in the Preston area for over 40 years. As a carpenter he was always eager to take on a new project, even say building a treehouse for his three daughters on a free weekend. Lynn was especially proud of the house he built not far from his childhood home next to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. In farming he strived to be a good steward of the land and to raise his modest number of beef cattle organically. Lynn was honored to be named a Fillmore County Outstanding Conservationist in 2021.
In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing softball and golf and made many friends over the years. He valued these friendships and was truly blessed to have the love and help of many lifelong friends in his final years.
Lynn was preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Leila, his older brothers Verdel and Larry and brother in-law Larry Gates.
He is survived by his former spouse and their three daughters: Katrina Tienter of Madison, Wis.; Jane (Tsuyoshi) Nemoto of Tokyo, Japan; and Grace (Marcus) Ertl of Preston, Minn.; and his siblings: Vivian (Darrell) Drinkall of Spring Valley, Minn., Beverly Waibel of Chaska, Minn., Curtis Tienter of Lime Springs, Iowa, and Charlene Gates of Lime Springs, Iowa. Lynn leaves behind seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank John Torgrimson of Preston for his support to Lynn in the final months of his life, as well as the staff at Spring Valley Living and St. Croix Hospice for their care and kindness.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Cherry Grove United Methodist Church. There will be a short visitation from 1 p.m. at the church prior to the service.
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