Per Arne Hjulstad, 83

Per Arne Hjulstad, 83 of Columbia Falls, passed away on Sept. 10, 2023, at his home..

His family hails from Trondheim, Norway. Due to the German invasion in April, 1940, his family fled the city just before his birth, so he was born in Leinstrand, Norway, on April 25, 1940. The family later returned to Trondheim, where Per grew up.

He often said he learned to ski before he walked. He immigrated to the USA with his parents in 1956, and settled on a farm near Havre, Montana. He attended school in Box Elder from 1957 - 1959 when he graduated. During that time, he played basketball and track for the Bears.

He returned to his Norwegian homeland in 1959, and came back to the United States one year later. He attended the University of Montana, go Griz, in 1960 and 1961. His parents told him he was having too much fun in school, so he joined the U.S. Army in 1961, completed basic training at Fort Ord, and then shipped to Ulm, Germany where he was a Quartermaster Supply Specialist with the Dependent Education Group and a member of his unit’s Pistol Team.

He returned to the USA in 1964, was honorably discharged, and took the Great Northern Empire Builder back to Havre. He noted he traveled three times on, "That marvelous source of transportation across the USA from New York."

Upon returning to Montana, he obtained his citizenship. He attended Northern Montana College from 1965 to 1967, where he worked for the hot lunch program and as a Resident Assistant while obtaining his BS (Broadfield Major in S.S.). He was proud that working combined with the GI Bill and his good grades kept him debt free. He received the Good Citizen Award at Northern in 1967.

In January of 1968, after having graduated, he worked in the Glasgow School District teaching history and government in the high school. He was hired in the Columbia Falls school district in the fall of 1968, to teach social studies in the junior high. He also coached junior high basketball, junior high track, and high school track. To quote Per, he "Loved it."

His tradition was to wear black on the first day of the school year. He was always nervous and wanted to inspire respect from the beginning. He was notorious among students for cracking his wooden pointer across the desk of sleepy kids, yet everyone recognized the kind, fun man he truly was. The kids also loved his accent, and chuckled during his lectures on Ivan the III (which sounded like Ivan da Turd). He inspired many kids to become teachers themselves. He remained a Columbia Falls teacher and coach until his retirement in 1999.

He was always a hard worker. In addition to teaching school, he worked for Anaconda Aluminum Company during the summer breaks in 1969, 1970, and 1971. In 1975, he began working during the summer at Glacier National Park, and he worked there until 2011. He was proud of those 36 years with the Park Service.

He married Rita Anders Konopatzke in 1973; they divorced in 1981.

He married Michele Barrett Pepper in 1983, and raised her two children, Mark and Monica. He wasn’t particularly handy in the house, but he was good with car maintenance and tried (and failed) to impart that wisdom to Mark. The stories of Mark’s many car misadventures entertained Per into his final days.

Per and Michele were happily married for 40 years. They spent their free time golfing, camping, fishing, boating, and traveling all over Montana and surrounding states. He appreciated the local communities and their history wherever he went. He said he would quit golfing the year his son-in-law, Joe Young, beat him, both could be competitive.

His competitive nature really shone when playing cards, he and Michele taught their daughter Monica and to-be son-in-law Joe Young, to play pinochle when they were short a couple for a pinochle party, that was 34 years ago, and there were countless games of Olds versus Youngs ever since.

For 13 years during their marriage, he and Michele hosted Super Bowl parties for their teacher friends that were so fun and popular, the Hungry Horse News unexpectedly showed up at one to tell the story, Michele turned them away, what was she thinking.

He enjoyed beer, and brewed his own for many years. He was a wonderful grandfather to his two grandchildren, Jacob and Joshua. They adored him, and he them, and they had countless adventures together, tubing, camping, boating, snow and water skiing, rafting, biking, and sledding. He was an amateur photographer, and his family and Facebook friends are blessed with his many photos of beautiful Montana scenery and wildlife.

He will be missed by his wife, Michele; stepson, Mark Pepper of Columbia Falls; stepdaughter, Monica and her husband Joe Young of Boise, Idaho; grandson, Joshua Young of Boise; three great-grandchildren, Laydn, Colt, and Nala, of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho; sister and brother-in-law, Kari and Jim Ray of Irrigon, Oregon; nieces, Jamie and Shelly; and many cousins and relatives in Norway.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Arvid and Elsa Hjulstad of Box Elder, Montana; grandson, Jacob Young of Boise; and nephews Steve and Mike.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18, at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, followed by an onsite luncheon. Family and friends may begin to visit on Monday starting at 10 a.m.

He was a long-time supporter and fan of the Columbia Falls Wildcats. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his honor to the "Wildcat Athletic Endowment" at PO Box 1259, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.

Takk for gode minner, Per. Du vil bli savnet. Thanks for the good memories, Per. You will be missed.