Chester “Chet” Kalmoe, of Montevideo, died Monday, April 11, 2016 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 89.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 16 at 2:00 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Donald S. McKee and Rev. Marie Eckberg officiating. Interment will be in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2:00PM the day of the services at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.
Chester “Chet” Kalmoe was born in Milan, Minnesota to Ludvig and Minnie (Hilden) Kalmoe on February 7, 1927. He was baptized at Watson Lutheran Church on March 6, 1927 and later confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Baxter on May 11, 1941. Chet attended country school until the 8th grade and then attended Montevideo High School graduating in 1945.
Chet served in the United States Navy from February 1945 to July 1946 and returned home to work at Johnson Motors in the parts department and later in the gas station. Chet married Shirley Lenox on June 20, 1948 at the First Baptist Church in Montevideo. They had two children Linda and Bonnie and later hosted an AFS student Maria that became part of their family. Chet worked for the United States Post Office as a postal clerk for over 30 years. He enjoyed his job and meeting with all who would come in the post office.
Following retirement from the post office Chet and Shirley spent summers at Norway Lake and traveled to Texas in the winter to golf and meet new friends. They also traveled on bus trips to different places and especially enjoyed Alaska and Nova Scotia. Chet enjoyed woodworking in his shop and spending time with his grandchildren. Chet was also a long time member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and served as head usher. Following a stroke in 2012, Chet moved to Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo, where he was lovingly cared for.
Chet is survived by his wife, Shirley; his children Linda (Ron) Lundeen of Phoenix, Arizona, Bonnie (Bruce) Hanson of Montevideo, MN and Maria Elisa (Priscila Beraldi) deAlencar of Brazil; his grandchildren: Nathan (Gaye) Lundeen, Joel Lundeen, Rachel Bianconi, Karissa (John Weaver) Eide, Margo Eide, Brian Hanson, and Travis (Ashley Toren) Hanson; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Chet was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Lois Kalmoe and a grandson Aaron Lundeen