Margrete E. “Christie” Kildahl, 83, of Houston died Thursday, May 23, 2013, at her home.

Margrete was born Sept. 2, 1929, in La Crosse, Wis., to Henry and Helen (Nash) Christianson. She was raised in Perkins Valley near Houston on the farm her family settled in 1856. Margrete graduated from Houston High School and Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, with degrees in education and social service. She taught second grade in Whitehall, Wis., where she met Erling Kildahl. On June 5, 1954, Margrete and Erling were married in Houston. The couple moved to Houston in 1958, where Margrete lived for the remainder of her life. She was a member of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, where she was in the craft club, was the chairwoman of the serving group and was a Sunday school teacher. Margrete was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Cultured Purl Knitting Club. Her interests included crossword puzzles, animals, reading, gardening and knitting. In 1964, one of Margrete’s knitting projects was the first-place winning entry at the Minnesota State Fair and was displayed at the World’s Fair in New York City. She loved her family and friends, Buck Burgers at Crossroads Restaurant in Houston, and Sundays at the Petersons'.

Margrete is survived by two children, Dan (Dana) Kildahl of Houston and Heidi (KILDAHL) HEIN ‘81 (Bill) of Clarksville, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Chris (Amber) Kildahl, Matt, Pete and Jenna Kildahl, and Kate and Mary Hein; a great-grandchild, Easton; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ruth Bridgewater, Millie Briggs, Phil Kildahl and Dick (Pat) Kildahl; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

The funeral service was May 31, 2013, at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston, with the Rev. Lane Zaffke officiating. Burial was in Stone Church Cemetery in Houston. Visitation was at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Houston.