Curt Emil Dahlee

Curt Emil Dahleen, born 4 September 1931, in Vange, Sweden, passed away at his home in Fruit Heights City, Utah, on 25 March, 2026. He is survived by his dear wife of 70 years, Enid Nilsen, and three children, Diane Anderson (Stevens), Sonja Decker (Rick), and Rodney (Heather), and brother, Rune (Margareta). He is preceded in death by his parents, seven of his eight siblings, and many dear friends.

His parents, Tacy Elizabeth Eckman and Carl Emil Dahlen, raised nine children in their home called Alvsby. (Curt later added the extra “e” to his name to encourage Americans to pronounce it properly.) Carl was a tenant farmer in Barby, Sweden. Tacy, born in Mountain Dell, Utah, returned to her father’s homeland, where she married and lived the rest of her life. An ambitious man from a young age, Curt worked delivering milk via bicycle, then in a shoe factory, and ran a local boys sports club.

When an American uncle invited him to the United States, Curt’s mother gave her blessing. In the new country, he taught himself English and how to drive. He took on the carpentry trade and earned American citizenship. Though he returned to Sweden 26 times over the years, his gratitude for his adopted country was strong.

Curt enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in November, 1950, and attended boot camp at Camp Pendleton, California. He served behind enemy lines in Korea as a forward observer specializing in targeting, communication and as a marksman. After being wounded and sent to a hospital ship, he famously “jumped ship” and returned to duty. Honorably discharged in September of 1953, he returned to his wife whom he had married while on leave from boot camp.

Starting over, Curt learned Enid had saved all his military pay. They bought a car, a home, and some property. Not able to convince his mother that he had come home from war intact, they sold everything and went to Sweden to prove it. Six months later, they returned to the United States to begin their life again. With a degree from Stevens Henager College, he was hired by Weyher Construction Company, where he worked for 30 years. Among his many career projects were fourteen interstate bridges (Utah and Idaho), a waste recycling plant (Portland, Maine), a silver refi nery facility (Kellogg, ID), a uranium processing plant (Blanding, UT), a senior-living apartment complex (Palm Desert, CA), a silver mine (Taos, NM), the Anaconda mining shaft (Utah), a silver mine facility (Red River, NM), and a sulphuric acid plant (Grantsville, UT). And there was always a side-hustle. He sold Christmas trees, handmade tree stands, and owned a mink ranch. In the early days, he promoted solar energy, supported eco-friendly toilets, and created and coached youth soccer leagues well before AYSO days.

Curt officiated in the Swedish Heritage Society and helped found the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, where he represented Utah to the King of Sweden. He created soccer fi elds where there were none and helped build a local playground. As a hobbyist, Curt continued to build and create things, including desks, cabinets, hope chests for the graduating grandkids, bird houses, wedding trellises, garden sheds, a solarium, custom cement pavers, and Kubbe sets. He and Enid grew, bottled and juiced their own and local produce. During his “retirement,” he remodeled the family home in Sweden, built additions to homes for his daughters, and constructed his current home in his 60s. (Their fi rst home he built in the 60s.)

He relished playing soccer well into adulthood. He taught his children and grandchildren to ski in the beautiful Utah mountains. Curt’s desire was to remain at home to the end of his life, which was made possible by the help of dedicated hospice workers from Caregiver Support Network. Thank you to the aides and nurses. You were there in our hours of need.

Devoted family members and loving neighbors attended him in the last days of his life. Those hours were fi lled with tender moments, some laughter and much gladness for the life he lived. Some of the words he spoke in the last week of his life were:

I know I’m about to die. And it feels wonderful to (be surrounded by family). I have had a wonderful life and have no regrets. I have no regrets. If the afterlife is as good as my life has been, I will be fi ne. I am happy.

Funeral services to be held at 24 South Country Lane, Fruit Heights, Utah, Friday, April 3, 2026 at 11:00 am. A viewing prior will be held from 9:30 to 10:45 am. Interment at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery, Bountiful, Utah.

Curt and Enid have treasured their participation in the Festival of Trees for the past 50 years, so the family asks that in lieu of fl owers, consider donating to the Curt & Enid Dahleen Festival Fund, Key Bank, SLC, UT, enabling family members to created yearly contributions to that great organization. Thank you.