Walter & Clerce Knudsen

KNUDSEN GREGOIRE, ANDERSEN CHRISTENSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/21/2010 at 16:51:17

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 19884

Walter and Clerce (Gregoire) Knudsen
By Ann McAnally

Walter Knudsen was born Waldemar Knudsen, March 20, 1879, in Mygal, Denmark, the ninth child and third son of Inger Ann Andersen and Knud Christensen, the local schoolmaster. Following the Scandinavian custom of the time, his surname was formed by adding sen (son) to his father’s Christian name, Knud. As a child, he wore wooden shoes, to cushion which he knit his won woolen socks, as did all his peers. He was also taught to do fine needlework.

At fourteen he was apprenticed to a blacksmith; after four years apprenticeship and two years as an ‘interne’, he received the designation of ‘Master Blacksmith’.

In 1900, he came to the states to join his older brothers, Chris and Fred, in Turin, in Monona County. His search for employment led him to Salix, where he went to work for William Gregoire. Gegoire, a farmer who moved to town so his children could attend Parochial school, had opened a smithy, but had little knowledge of the trade. So the eager young Dane was most welcome. Neither man spoke more than a smattering of English. Gregoire was soon inviting the homesick younger man, then twenty-three, home for a good meal. Before long he was spending much time there, learning English as he played Cribbage with twelve-year-old Clerce Gregoire.

Young Clerce was a spirited, vivacious girl who loved to dance and to appear in amateur theatricals. She and her brothers frequently were called on to entertain at parties and dances. She had many ‘beaus’ as the years went by, and Walter learned to play the fiddle so he could better keep an eye on her at local barn dances!

When Gregoire sold his ship in Salix and moved to South Dakota, Walter bought a shop in Bronson, Iowa. It was there he brought his bride, Clerce Gregoire, in October 1918. In the interim, Clerce had worked several years at Creighton College in Omaha.

They lived in Bronson twenty-five years, raising three children. They were both active members of Immaculate Conception parish in Morningside and of the community of Bronson. Walter, a clarinetist, was one of the organizers and guiding spirits of the Bronson Band, which gave summer concerts in a little wooden bandstand. He also played with Reeds Band and Monahan Post Band in Sioux City, and with the Moville Band. Clerce was a Royal Neighbor, appearing with their drill team and frequently appearing in skits.

In 1943, the Knudsens moved to Vermillion, South Dakota, where Walter continued to do blacksmithing until 1965. Clerce worked for several years as assistant to Dr W H Over, at the USD Museum, later renamed the W H Over Museum. In 1968, the day before what would have been their 50th anniversary. Walter passed on, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery, Vermillion, South Dakota.

The first of their children born was Ann Marie (January 13, 1920). After working for several years in Sioux City, on July 11, 1942. She married Paul Edward McAnally (September 8, 1919) the son of Gerald and May (Skadden) McAnally of Canton, South Dakota. Paul was then serving in the Army Air Corps. After the cessation of hostilities, he decided to make the military his career, retiring to Tucson, Arizona in 1971. Their children are (1) Kathleen Ann ‘Katie’ (May 12, 1947) now married to James Boyd and living in Missoula, Montana. Boyd is a photographer and Katie a free lance artist. (2) Thomas Paul (June 20, 1949) a graduate of the Air Force Academy and Tulane Medical School, married June 11, 1971 to Yoko Rarick (November 30, 1948) and father of Heath Bartom (September 26, 1972) and Benjamin Lael (September 8, 1975). (3) Gary Edward (July 5, 1954), an electrical engineer married August 31, 1976 to Linda Kurick, a speck pathologist. They have one son, Frank Kurick, born December 29, 1981.

The older of the Knudsen sons, Walter Raymond (April 5, 1924) married first Marian Hicks. They had one son, Gregory B (January 25, 1949) and a daughter LynDee. After the dissolution of that marriage, Walter married Lois Elaine ‘Lainey’ Graham (March 12, 1929). They have a son Erik Lars (September 4, 1958) and a daughter Christa (November 30, 1959), and have an adopted daughter, Sooni, born in Seoul, Korea. Gregory is married to Lorna Dianne Hall (February 18, 1950) and their children are Erik Christian and Courtney. Christa is married to John Brimer and has one son, Justin. Walter is Director of the Forestry School at Lake City College, Florida.

Knud William ‘Bill’ (May 7, 1926) married Donna Lull (September 24, 1931) on July 2, 1949. Their children are Connie Lanette (July 4, 1950), Susan Renee (August 24, 1953) and Mark William (September 4, 1955). Susan is married to Ken Giegling (May 8, 1949) and their children are Becky Lee (August 19, 1977) and Troy William (July 20, 1982). Ken is with the South Dakota State Police. Mark is married to Cindy Bernard (September 28, 1956). Bill is the Chief Engineer at the Dakota Dome, USD, Vermillion, South Dakota. His entire family lives in South Dakota.