Last weekend we celebrated my Grandfather’s life of 94 years! A beloved father, brother, grandfather and fisherman. Now he’s fishin w/ Jesus!

Al was born May 19th, 1915 in Amisk, Alberta Canada. He was the fourteenth of fifteen children for Christian and Karen Setter who immigrated from Norway at the turn of the century to homestead land in northern Alberta. Al received an eight grade education before going to work at a neighbor’s farm. He met and married Evelyn Holte in 1941, worked on the grain elevators of Alberta Wheat Pool, and had two children Sharon and Lyle. After moving to Bowness outside of Calgary they added Laurie and Ron (my dad) to the family. Al worked construction and he and his brothers competed in the Canadian sport of Curling. When the family moved to Balzac to purchase another farm he added raising wheat and pigs to his already busy life.

With the promise of better work, Al moved his family to Phoenix, AZ in 1960 and was employed by Del Web building homes in the blazing heat of the Arizona desert. Many times his lunch pale came home with the sandwich untouched but the five gallon jug of water, and of course the cookies or sweets gone.

When Alfred and Evelyn divorced Al moved to Hood River, Oregon and took up farming once again on his daughter Sharon’s land. He worked construction as well and was involved in building the fish ladders and visitors center at Bonneville Dam and Locks on the Columbia river. Al retired from pounding nails at age 65 and became a custodian a Parkdale elementary where he worked another seven years before settling down as a full-time handy man and fisherman. When not playing Cribbage or checking out a local garage sale, he and long time friend Dorothy Glover spent many days pulling Salmon and Steelhead out of the waters of the Cascade Locks and the Hood River. His smoked Salmon was always a coveted treat!

Al moved into Berry Park (retirement home) in 2004 and spent his last years playing cards and pool, going to church, and enjoying the company of the wonderful residents there. He left this earth on September 29, 2009 in his daughter’s home, well loved and in peace.

My grandpa was truly a magnificent man who lead by example. We will certainly miss his quiet ways and quick wit but long remember his dancing feet, his unending work ethic, his love for fishing, Norwegian food, and oh yes – Polka music!

-Written by Laurie Kuykendall (my Aunt)