- Date Of Birth: April 1, 1915
- Date Of Death: December 13, 2008
- State: Montana
Norman E. Stedje, age 93, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. He was born near Hettinger, North Dakota on April 1, 1915 to Erick and Karen Stedje.
He was next to the youngest of eight children. His parents were farmers. Norman attended a rural school and then the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis for a short time. In August of 1935 Norman and his brother Arnold hopped a freight train and went to Columbus, Montana to work on a farm. A year later they came to Kalispell. Norman found work with the Equity Supply Co and worked there for several years.
In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Okinawa until he received an honorable discharge in 1946. In 1950, he and his brother bought the Ford and New Holland franchises from Garey Motors. They operated this business, known as Stedje Brothers, for 40 years acquiring stores in Ronan and Missoula also.
Norman and Ruth Prestbye were married on January 10, 1951 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell, Montana. They and their three children moved to Ronan, Montana in 1963. While living there, Norman was active in Faith Lutheran Church and in community affairs. He was mayor for the city of Ronan for 14 years. While a member of the Montana League of Cities and Towns, Norman served a term on the state and national League of Cities and Towns.
He belonged to the Lion’s organization and served on church boards at the local, district, and national levels. Norman sang in church choirs, men’s quartets, and with the Flathead Valleyaires. He helped develop the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp on Flathead Lake, served on its board, and traveled to promote interest in it and to raise funds for its development.
Norman was also a Gidion for several years, a member of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, a member of the Salvation Army Board, and spent a winter in Helena serving on an advisory board for Governor Stephens. Norman traveled with a group of implement dealers to Russia and several European countries to observe their farming methods.
Norman’s wife Ruth died in 1981. On June 21, 1986, he married his widowed sister-in-law Mirth E. Stedje at Calvary Lutheran Church and moved back to Kalispell. Norman loved working with flower gardens at home in Ronan and also working around the cabin on Foy’s Lake.
His Christian faith has been a great importance and strength his entire life. He moved to Immanuel Lutheran Home in November 2003 because of Alzheimer’s disease.
Norman is preceded in death by his parents, 5 sisters, and 2 brothers and his first wife Ruth. He is now survived by his wife Mirth Stedje of Kalispell, MT; one son; Rodney Stedje and wife Michal Ann of Ronan, MT; two daughters; Barbara Chapin and husband Skip and Kristine Stedje all of Minneapolis, MN; one step-son; Douglas Stedje of Tacoma, WA; one step-daughter; Joy Mahlum and husband Ed of Kalispell, MT. 4 grandchildren; Emily Hoffman and husband Brandon of Houghton, NY, Melanie Stedje of Philadelphia, PA, Rebecca Chapin of Minneapolis, MN, Erick Stedje at MSU in Bozeman, MT; step-grandchildren; Daniel and David Mahlum of Kalispell, MT and Kimberly Stedje of Tacoma, WA.
