Knud Kaae

Memorial Services will be held for Knud Peter Kaae Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 2:00 PM, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Billings. Interment of ashes will take place this summer at the Nathanael Lutheran Church Cemetery near Dagmar, MT. Knud, 90, passed on March 20th in Billings, MT. Knud was born on July 24, 1927 to Jens “Jim” and Katrine (Sundsted) Kaae. He was raised on his parents' farm northeast of Dagmar, a community settled predominately by Danish immigrants. Knud grew up speaking Danish and learned English once he started Roosevelt Grade School. He credited his resourcefulness and being a good fixer to growing up during the Depression and was thankful that he never once went to bed hungry throughout that time. He held many other fond memories from his childhood, including the Danish traditions honored during parties held in the family's home and in the homes of his many aunts and uncles who lived nearby, swimming in Clear Lake, and attending functions at the Nathanael Lutheran Church and community gatherings at the Danish Brotherhood Lodge. He also enjoyed dancing, his favorite music being from The Big Band era. Shortly after graduating from Antelope High School, Knud was stricken with poliomyelitis. Once he made a full recovery, he enlisted in the US Air Force. His most memorable assignments were serving isolated duty in Cold Bay, AK because of the location's rugged beauty and in Portland, OR where he re-established close friendships with family friends who had relocated there from Dagmar. After he was discharged, he attended Montana State College in Bozeman before joining his older brother, Kenneth, in farming. In 1956 he married Elinor “Ellie” Poulsen of Sidney, MT. They raised three children and during that time he helped his father-in-law, Peter, build a new home over the farm's original homestead site. Throughout his life he enjoyed helping others and contributing to the community. A life-long member of the Nathanael Lutheran Church and the Danish Brotherhood Lodge Polarstjernen, Knud served on many local and State boards, including the Sheridan County Soil Conservation District and both the Montana and National Durum Grower's Association. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and belonged to the Scottish Rite and Al Bedoo Temple of the Shrine for many years. Upon retiring, Knud and Ellie moved to Billings to be near their daughter, Valeri and turned the farm over to their oldest son, Brian. For several years, they spent winters visiting their son, Peri in Phoenix and traveling – a highlight being a trip to Denmark to visit the birthplaces of his parents and meet numerous cousins. Although he adapted to city life, Knud was happiest whenever he was fixing machinery or planting, cultivating and harvesting, proving you can take a boy off the farm but never really take the farm out of the boy. Knud is survived by his wife, Ellie and their children Valeri, Brian (Laurel) and Peri (Donald), two grandchildren, Jessica Bialczak (James) and William Westerso, and his younger brother, Erling. He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Kenneth, Glenn, and Velmar, and a sister Irene Eta. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com