Background
Kildahl was born in Beitstaden parish (Namdalseidet), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.
Kildahl was born in Beitstaden parish (Namdalseidet), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.
He was educated at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
Kildahl emigrated as a boy from Norway to rural Goodhue County, Minnesota. Kildahl served as a Lutheran pastor at churches in Minnesota and Illinois. Kildahl was called first to Lutheran congregations at Vang and Urland in rural Minnesota.
He served as principal and professor at Red Wing Seminary.
Later Kildahl was President of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Seminary from 1885-1886. In 1889, Kildahl was called to Bethlehem Church in Chicago.
In 1899, Kildahl was elected President of Saint Olaf College, a position he would hold until 1914. At Saint Olaf College, Kildahl recruited a distinguished faculty that included Ole Rolvaag in the humanities and F. Melius Christiansen in music
He also served as pastor of Saint John"s Church in Northfield, Minnesota from 1899 to 1903.
Starting in 1914, he was a professor at Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Kildahl was a prolific writer principally regarding matters relating to the Lutheran faith. His original works were written in the Norwegian language.
One of the first-year residence halls at Saint Olaf College is named after Kildahl.
