Kermit Enoch KNUTSON

KNUTSON, LARSEN, WAY, GRANDGEORGE, SMITH, FRIESTH, PREHM, STUMPO, AINGER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/30/2008 at 09:31:36

July 30, 2008
Fort Dodge Messenger, IA

EAGLE GROVE - Kermit Enoch Knutson, the son of Peter and Inga (Larsen) Knutson, was born February 21, 1919 on a farm near Owl Lake, in Humboldt County. He attended school in Badger and Thor. He worked for the REA Electric. In 1938 he graduated from Chicago Tech with a degree in diesel engineering. He worked at the Willow Run Bomber plant in Michigan.

On September 21, 1940, he was united in marriage at a double ceremony to June Rose Way in Trenton, Mo. His sister Ione married Francis Grandgeorge, also of Eagle Grove. He served during World War II in France and Germany. Returning to Eagle Grove after the war, he started Knutson Construction building houses and laying brick. He later bought out Kist Ready Mix and spent the next 28 years running Knutson Ready Mix. In 1989, at the age of 70, Kermit retired and spent time traveling world wide with June and working with various church activities. Kermit was very active in community activities which included serving as a City Councilman and working with the Chamber of Commerce, Senior Citizens, the American Legion, Rotary Club, Rotary Ann Board, and various offices in his church. Kermit was named Wright County Volunteer of the year.

Kermit passed away July 27, 2008, at Trinity Medical Center at the age of 89 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Ricky Eugene; brothers, Olaf, Raymond and Percy; sisters, Ester Smith, Ruth Friesth, Ione Grandgeorge and Sally Prehm. Kermit is survived by his wife of 67 years, June, of Eagle Grove; Terry Blaine, of Tyler, Texas; Sharon Rose (Ray) Stumpo, of Pasadena, Calif.; Barbara Jean (Les) Ainger, of Eagle Grove; Ronald Dean, of Dallas, Texas; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Holmes Baptist Church in Holmes. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Foust Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. Memorials may be given to the Holmes Baptist Building Fund, KJYL Radio and Eagle Grove Senior Citizens.