Kenneth Knutson

Kenneth Knutson, age 87, of Ulen, Minnesota, died Thursday, May 05, 2011 in Viking Manor Nursing Home, Ulen. Kenneth W. Knutson was born October 30, 1923the son of Knut and Christine (Renslow) Knutson and was raised on a farm near Ulen. He graduated from Ulen High School where he became known as Skippy to friends & family. After working on the farm & other jobs, Ken moved to California where he married Ruth Corwin Kujawski, also from Ulen, in June 1956. They raised four children together until her death in 1976. Ken made sure his family was well taken care of and that they went on many outings, camping trips & visits back to Ulen. Ken was employed at Kaiser Steel and during that time trained to become a piano technician. He worked as a piano tuner at two small piano shops and then at Colton Piano, the largest piano dealer in Southern CA. Besides tuning pianos for these businesses, Ken also tuned, refinished and restored pianos in his spare time. In the early 1960's, he earned his real estate license and sold property in the Salton Sea area. Ken retired in 1989 but continued to work on pianos for another 10 years. Music was something that Ken enjoyed very much. He loved playing the piano & singing for others which he continued to do after he came to the Viking Manor in 2007. Bowling was also a favorite pass time of Ken's and he was quite good at it. Ken is survived by his children, a stepdaughter Adele (Wayne) Stoddard of NV, daughters, Barbara (Steve) Despain of CA, and Debbie (Mark) Skaggs of CO and a son, Steven Knutson of NV; his grandchildren Brian Stoddard, Karen Smith, Jason Skaggs, Amber Skaggs, Andy Skaggs, Kevin Skaggs, Melanie Bigoni and Sean Despain and five great-grandchildren; his sister Blenda Gregerson and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ruth, companion Mary Owens, sister, Carla and brother, Oris. Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 10:30 AM in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ulen. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Officiating was Pastor Steve Dahl with music provided by Susan Green. Burial was in Keene Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ulen.

Kenneth Knutson

October 30, 1923 - May 5, 2011