Lennart C. Lekstrom, of Annandale, VA, a former naval officer and computer programmer and project manager for IBM, passed away on January 24th. He was 74.

Funeral service will be 11 AM, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN. Burial will be at Greenwood, Cemetery, Warren, MN.

Visitation will be 5 " 8 PM, Monday, May 9, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, with a 7 PM prayer service and for one hour prior to the service at the church, Monday.

Born in 1937 in Crosby-Ironton, MN, Len earned a full Naval ROTC scholarship to the University of Minnesota. Shortly after graduation, he met and married Barbara Kagg of Viking, MN, and moved to Norfolk, VA to take his first commission aboard the USS Fort Mandan.

After spending six years in the US Navy as a Lieutenant and communications officer, Len joined IBM in 1965 as a computer programmer. Over the course of his career, he managed many defense contracts as well as several NASA projects including Saturn 5.

While working at IBM, Len taught computer science at Northern Virginia Community College as an adjunct professor for twenty-five years. He co-authored one of the first textbooks on Computer System Architecture, published in 1983.
Among his other accomplishments, Len earned Masters degrees in Mathematics and Business Administration.

Len enjoyed bridge and travel and was an avid golfer. Survivors include his loving wife of fifty years, Barbara, two daughters, Julie Lekstrom Himes of Boston, MA and Kristen Lekstrom of North Potomac, MD, his sister Karin Merkert, and three grandsons.

Memorial services are planned for May in Thief River Falls, MN.