Pastor Daniel Rinderknecht

Pastor Daniel Rinderknecht died in the Christian faith on June 22, 2026, in Billings, Montana at the age of 71 after a sudden cardiac event.

Pastor Rinderknecht was born October 15th, 1954, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and baptized at St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Atkins, IA.  He attended, was confirmed, and graduated from Central Lutheran Grade School in Atkins.  During his elementary years, he also lived in San Martin and Prunedale, CA for two years.  He graduated from Benton Community High School in Van Horn, IA in the winter of 1972. 

Pastor worked in construction for two years, and began his pre-ministerial studies at Concordia College, St. Paul, MN in the spring of 1975, graduating in the spring of 1979.  He then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.  His vicarage year was at Trinity Lutheran Church in Davison, MI.  After graduating from the seminary in the spring of 1983, he was placed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Beach Corner, Alberta, Canada, where he served for 20 years.  During his years in Canada, he served as circuit counselor, filled vacancies, and served as the head of the Board of Regents at Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Alberta, Canada.  He was 3rd, 2nd, and eventually 1st Vice President of Lutheran Church-Canada.  In addition, Pastor fulfilled a special calling when he traveled to Ukraine to teach seminarians in the newly established Ukrainian Lutheran Church and Seminary.  He completed two semesters of this unique ministry by instructing young, Ukrainian men to be ministers. 

Pastor accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church, Billings, MT and began serving in early September 2003.  He joyously served the members of Trinity until his February 2023 retirement. 

God called Pastor to serve again in December 2025, and he began making bi-monthly trips to minister to LCMS congregations in Glasgow and Wolf Point, MT.  These trips continued until his death. 

Pastor met Cathy Schiefelbein at Concordia College, St. Paul in 1975, and they were married in January 1977.  God blessed this union with four children.  Kessie was born in St. Paul, MN, Holly in St. Louis, MO, Ditza in Davison, MI, and Luke in Beach Corner, AB, Canada. 

Pastor Rinderknecht is survived by his wife, Cathy, and their four children, Kessie Stevens, Holly Hall (Jan), Ditza Hopkins (Nick), and Luke Rinderknecht (Jeremy Durocher).  His granddaughters include Paige and Brooke Hall, Morgan Stevens, and Natalia and Anastasia Hopkins.  In addition, Pastor is survived by his siblings, Phil Rinderknecht (Julie), Mike Rinderknecht (Pam), Don Rinderknecht (Penney) and Alice Dillon (Jeff).  He is also survived by multiple cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews. 

Pastor will be fondly remembered for his love of music, his building/maintenance of his property, his love of learning, and his ability to remember people’s names.  He passionately loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, his family and friends, and the people he served.  God blessed him with a servant’s heart.  He is deeply loved and will be greatly missed. 

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”, Matthew 25:21. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Worden, MT (organ and parking lot fund), LaVie Heath, Billings, MT, or a charity of your choice.