Reverend Walter J. Kirkegaard

Rev. Walter J. Kirkegaard of Great Falls, MT passed away on October 23, 2023, at the age of 94.

Walt was born on August 31, 1929, in Littleton, CO to Anton and Helen Kirkegaard. He graduated high school in Aurora, CO in 1947. After high school, he moved to Northern California for work in a logging mill and a large dairy farm.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science through Dana College located in Blair, NE. While obtaining his degree, he played football and participated in boxing and track. In 1957, he then graduated from Trinity Seminary in Dubuque, IA and was ordained into the Lutheran Ministry in Racine, WI.

The first parish Paster Walt served was in Minden, NE. Here, he helped to facilitate the construction of a new church building, and over the course of his six years of service, a large growth in membership occurred.

He was then called to start a new congregation in McCook, NE. The first services were held in the county courthouse. During his five years of service, the congregation grew to over 240 members, and a building for the church was constructed.

Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD called Pastor Walt to fill the position of Senior Pastor, and he answered. He served the membership of 3000 for ten years, not only carrying out an active radio ministry and a strong education program, but also had the church facilities updated. During his service at Grace Lutheran, he also served on the National Board of Service and Mission for the ALC (chairing the board for 2 terms) and was selected as a delegate to the Lutheran World Federation Assembly in Dar Es Salaam, Africa in 1977. In 1978, he accepted a call to the Senior Pastor from Our Saviors Luther in Great Falls, MT. He served for 4 years.

Choosing to take a break from parish ministry, Pastor Walt went to work at Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home in Great Falls, MT as their manager. A year passed, and he then decided to further his education and attend Worsham School of Mortuary Science in Chicago IL, graduating as a Licensed Mortician, Funeral Director, embalmer, and grief counselor. He was on staff at Chapel of Chimes for nine years and then decided to return to parish in ministry in Havre, MT.

Serving as Senior Pastor at First Lutheran Church in Havre for nine years, he facilitated the development of a preschool/daycare program and started a limited television broadcast. During this time, he also served on the Board of Trustees for Northern Montana Hospital for a period of six years during which an 8.5-million-dollar nursing home was built providing rooms for 185 people. This nursing home included a special area for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

With plans to retire from the ministry, he moved back to Great Falls in 2000. However, after just three short months, he was asked to serve as Associate Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church. He accepted the call. After just a short time there, he was appointed Interim Bishop for the Montana Synod ELCA, a position he filled for six months until the new Bishop was elected.

Finally, Bethany Lutheran Church in Dutton, MT called upon him in 2002. He served in Dutton until he retired in 2015 at the age of 86.

Pastor Walt was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Carol, Dorothy, Irene, and Ruby; and brothers, John, Anton, and Marty.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy; sister, Ruth Svinth of Petaluma, CA; sons, Lee (Ann) of Graham, WA, Rod, and Tim both of Great Falls; stepsons, Doug Patzer of Helena, MT and Jim Patzer of Denver, CO; daughters, Tammy (Tom) LaKemper of The Villages, FL and Rosie Hicks of Stanford, MT; stepdaughters, Tammy (Gary) Bistodeau of Great Falls and Jill (Bruce) Cooper of Hemet, CA; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Pastor Walt will be truly missed. His impact on the community and his family will be everlasting.

A viewing will be held at Schnider Funeral Home on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 30, 2023, at Highland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, 550 Lutheran Camp Rd, Lakeside, MT, 59922.