Legendary skier, adventurer Bryce Lundeen dies

Bryce Lundeen, 61, died in a bicycling accident on the Central Lakes Bike Trail in the tunnel underneath Nokomis Street in Alexandria Saturday morning.
Lundeen, of Alexandria, was biking on the trail when he lost control of his bicycle, fell and hit his head on the pavement, according to police. He died at the scene.
Lundeen was not wearing a helmet and was discovered shortly after the accident.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, at the Anderson Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Lundeen, formerly of Columbia Heights, is survived by his wife, Cyndi, and sister, Carolyn. In lieu of flowers, memorials are welcome in the memory of Bryce Lundeen, and will be used for numerous charities.

Lundeen has always been a legendary figure to many boomers in Alexandria. John Herdan has these memories:

Even though Bryce grew up in the cities, he was a part of the summer lore of Alexandria. If he had lived in California, he would have been the classic blond, pefectly-tanned surfer.
In Alexandria, he was the ultimate water skier. He was one of the first people I ever saw water ski barefoot. He was, if I remember right, the first person ever to go off a jump barefoot.
One of the most amazing things he could do was lie on his back on the beach and when he hit the water come up skiing on his bare feet. He skied with the water ski team at city park, which included lots of people we all know but I won't start to name because I know I'll forget somebody.
We worked together at Lakeland Realty in Alex nearly every day for 15 months. He drove a great big Chevy convertible and had the first car phone I had ever seen (1978). With all the crazy death defying things I saw him do, I couldn't imagine that he would die riding a bicycle. RIP Bryce.

John

(Members of the water ski team that John does remember are Linda (Engstrom) Akenson, Tom Akenson, Terry Akenson, and Denny Spaulding -- who may be living in Paynesville now. If you know names of any other members, send them to trailboss@swpub.com. Does anyone have a photo of the water ski team, with Bryce in it, performing? We would love to publish one. Kathy Aga Lee remembers that the late Leslie Engstrom, '61, was the one who really got the team organized.)