Dennis H Kilde

Dennis Harold Kilde died peacefully with his family by his side on May 14, 2026 at the Veterans Memorial Home in Fergus Falls at the age of 86.

Dennis was born on December 20, 1939 in Parkers Prairie, MN on the family farm in Otter Tail County to Joseph and Effie (Hultman) Kilde. He lived on the family farm until they moved to Fergus Falls when he was eight years old. He attended school through the tenth grade.

At age 16 he entered into the Army serving from December 1, 1956 to January 21, 1957. He was honorably discharged and then joined the Air Force February 1, 1957 to January 31, 1961. Dennis was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force base in South Dakota, he served his time in Thule Greenland as an electrician and was honorably discharged.

On January 17, 1959 Dennis married the love of his life, Lucille "Lucy" Clark at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Glen Lake. Dennis and Lucy had celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2019.

Dennis held a variety of jobs through out his life, working at a garage for his uncle Ben Kilde as a mechanic, driving truck for Helmer and Grace Bjerkebek in 1970 working for North Star Dairy which later became Mid Am Dairy and finally Dairy Farmers of America. Dennis drove truck for them from 1970 to 1983 and transferred into the lab until he retired in 2002, after 32 years of employment with them.

The couple have three daughters, Romayne Lucille, Rhonda Lee, and Renee Lynn. Each summer the family would travel for vacation often visiting brother, Bud and family in San Jose, CA, and sister, Lois and family in Bend, OR. They traveled to Florida in the summer of 1976 and celebrated the Bicentennial on July 4th at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.

Dennis and Lucy lived in a small and quaint home on Adolphus Ave in Fergus Falls until 1997 when they built their dream retirement home on Jewett Lake, ten miles north of Fergus Falls.

Over the years, Dennis and Lucy were member of a number of different bowling leagues and enjoyed competing in National Bowling Tournaments. They also enjoyed traveling with Clint and Lindy Kilde, Barb and Vernon Stich, and Rod and Eileen Kilde to favorite country music destinations, like Nashville, TN and Branson, MO.

His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends, fishing and fish fries at the lake, attending Kilde Barn Fest which started in 2016. When Dennis was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma he said, "I just hope I can make it to Barn Fest." Dennis moved into town from the lake in November of 2023. Dennis was so dedicated to the people in his life, never missing an event if he could help it. He loved hard and unconditionally, he will be missed by all who knew him, as he was a one in a million kind of guy.

Preceding him death were the love of his life, Lucille Kilde; parents, Joseph and Effie Kilde; in-laws, Emerson and Irene Clark; brothers, Bud (Joy) Kilde and Duane (Dee) Kilde; sisters, Jeanette Sherman and Sharon Bloch; sisters-in-law, Vivian (Andy) Hilde and Betty (Clark) Duncan; great-granddaughter, Shelby Marie Schmidt, and great-grandson, Henrik Donald Olson.

Dennis is survived by daughters, Romayne Kilde, Rhonda (Greg) Schmidt, and Renee Kilde all of Fergus Falls; sister, Lois Haney of Longmont, CO; brother-in-law, Deland Bloch of Savage; grandchildren, Sarah Schmaltz of Fargo, Joshwa (Desiree) Fuxa, Shawna (Dan) Olson, Carsten (Jessica) Schmidt, Corey Lundstrom, and Ryan Lundstrom; great-grandchildren, Isabel (Levi) Durbin, Mackenzie Fuxa, Liam Schmaltz, Brianna Fuxa, Griffin Olson, Evelyn Schmidt, Oliver Olson, Harrison Olson, Emerson Olson, and Caleb Schmidt; great-great-grandson, Beckham Durbin, and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the Veterans Memorial Home, Vivie Hospice, New Dimensions, Lake Region Healthcare Cancer Care and Research Center, and Corner Home Medical for the wonderful care and service provided to Dennis over the past week, months, and years.

Visitation: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls, and will resume one-hour prior to the service at the church.

Service: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.

Clergy: Reverend Amy Kelly

Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls, Minnesota

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com