Khim Khoan

Khim Khoan was born Feb. 3, 1943 in Tagal, Cambodia. His mother was Soi and father was Gal. He had four brothers and two sisters. His mother and father were rice farmers. As a kid, he would climb up palm trees to collect palm sugar to support his family and make money. He and his family later moved to Battambang, as rice farming was not a good livelihood where they were living.

Khim first married Mogne and they had three boys together - Sok, Lay, and Neauk. Mogne died from malaria. Neauk died at an early age from malaria. Sok and Lay are the only surviving sons. Khim met Leng in 1973 and would spend the rest of his life with her. Together, they had a total of six kids: two boys (Sok and Lay), one adopted son (Sarom), and three girls (Soksan, Seap, and Jennifer). In Cambodia, Khim was a rice farmer and Leng was a seamstress.

Starting in the 70s, a bloody civil war raged between Vietnamese and Khmer communist groups, leading to the Khmer Rouge. In 1978, Leng, Khim, Sok and Lay fled Cambodia. Soksan and Seap were left behind. Seap died at an early age in Cambodia.

With Khim’s leadership, Khim, Leng, Sok, and Lay escaped the Khmer Rouge and made it to a refugee camp in Thailand. There, they met and adopted Sarom. They were then sponsored by Beverly and Ernie Rogers in 1979 and came to the United States.

Once in the United States, Khim and his family planted roots in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. When they first arrived, they lived with Beverly and Ernie Rogers. Bev and Ernie provided the family with support, community, and a path to God. They found a community at the Fellowship General Baptist Church and practiced Christianity. Khim found a job as a laborer at a lumber yard. Jennifer was born shortly after they arrived in the United States. Soksan was brought to the United States in 1995.

Khim worked at the lumber yard for 24 years. He retired following open heart surgery and a subsequent fractured rib. He moved to Shakopee, Minnesota in 2003.

In June 2015, Khim suffered from a stroke, impacting his health and independence. He remained strong after his stroke. He celebrated his 80th birthday with his family. On July 12, 2023, he died at 2 a.m. in his home surrounded by his wife and family.

Khim loved to show off his strength. He would flex his pec muscles, which would make his kids and wife laugh. He had a sweet tooth and loved soda, especially Mountain Dew. His favorite shows to watch were WWE wrestling and The Three Stooges. He had a hobby of woodworking and would enjoy it after work. But most of all, he loved to spend his time at home with his wife and family.

Khim was a strong, supportive, and lovable man. Khim and Leng built a life full of love with one another and made wonderful memories with friends and family. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His wife, kids, and grandkids carry on his legacy. He had 15 grandkids and four great-grandkids.

If he could write from heaven this is what he would say: “Please don’t miss me too much, I’m with you throughout your day. You may not see or hear me but if you’re quiet and still, you may just feel my presence; because, in heaven, there is free will. Don’t worry for the day, it will come and go as planned, enjoy each moment you are given, keep worry from your hand. Keep sorrow to a minimum; For if heaven could see, you’d know I’m safe and happy. I did not cease to be. Moments in time are brief, until we’ll be together again, as eternity lasts forever, our lives, they have no end.” Khim was deeply loved and will be dearly missed.