Alden Knatterud

Alden C. Knatterud, 92, died on October 26, 2012, in Fargo, ND.He was born to Christian and Ella Stenehjem Knatterud on March 23, 1920, in Lanesboro, MN, and baptized at what is now Bethlehem Lutheran Church there on April 25 by Pastor P. J. Nestande. His father, a 1913 University of Minnesota graduate, was a pharmacist. The family left Lanesboro when Alden was 5; he attended grades 1 through 3 in Zumbrota, and grade 4 through the beginning of grade 11 in Spring Grove, then graduated from Chatfield High School in 1938. He earned his undergraduate degree at Winona State College in 1946 B.S., social science, with honor and his master's degree in educational administration at the University of Minnesota in 1947. During World War II, he served with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Corps, training pilots. He married Shirley Erlandson on August 12, 1948, at Rapidan Norwegian Lutheran Church.He was the principal of several schools in southern Minnesota Nicollet, Mabel, and Pipestone before moving to Moorhead, where he was the senior high principal for 21 years, from 1956 to 1977. He then taught philosophy of education courses and supervised student teachers at Moorhead State College. He was a co-founder and the first president of the Vikingland Kiwanis Club.He is survived by his wife of more than 64 years, Shirley Erlandson Knatterud; 4 children, Kathryn Luther Jerome of Fargo, Mary Knatterud James Johnson of St. Paul, Richard Knatterud Pauline of Helena, MT, and John Knatterud of St. Paul; 7 grandchildren, Jennifer Luther Olson Nicholas of Fargo, Christopher Luther Lisa of Fargo, Justin Luther of Minneapolis, Joshua Knatterud-Hubinger of St. Paul, Nathan Knatterud-Hubinger of St. Paul, Elizabeth Knatterud of Missoula, MT, and Emma Knatterud-Johnson of Grinnell, IA; 2 step-grandchildren, Bryce Johnson of Jacksonville, FL, and Janis Diamond of St. Augustine, FL; and 2 great-grandchildren, Chase Olson and Chelsea Olson of Fargo. He was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Lois Neman and Helen Kalinowski, and 1 brother, Jerry Knatterud.Memorials preferred to Churches United for the Homeless, Moorhead.