Norman Knudsvig

Funeral service for Norman Knudsvig, 92, of Fargo, formerly of Dunn Center, ND, will be 10:30 a. m. , Friday, September 21, 2012 at Normanna Lutheran Church, Dunn Center, ND with Pastors John and Rachel Simonson officiating. Burial will follow in Dunn Center Cemetery, Dunn Center, ND.


Visitation for Norman will be from 5:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. , Thursday, September 20, 2012 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, with a prayer service being held at 6:00 p. m.


Norman passed away Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at Edgewood Vista in Fargo, ND.


Norman Alvin Knudsvig was born on July 5, 1920, in Dunn County to Lewis and Mary (Johnson) Knudsvig in Dunn Center, ND. He was baptized and confirmed at Normanna Lutheran Church and attended Dunn Center schools. Before farming full-time, Norman drove a horse-drawn school bus for a few years, worked at the Pelton coal mine and at Bosch Lumber Company. He married Alice Helgeson on June 18, 1944, and together they raised five children. During their first years of marriage, Norman helped his dad farm while his brother Morris was in the service. Norman enjoyed working with animals and was one of the first in the area to raise Black Baldies. Norman loved the local rodeos and a favorite pastime during these later years was watching videos of rodeos and old episodes of “The Lawrence Welk Show”.  Both brought him much pleasure. Norman enjoyed playing card games and was a card shark at rummy and pinochle in his retirement years. Norman’s love of music was evident in his purchase of a “fun machine” to learn how to play some of his favorite songs. He later purchased an organ and taught himself to play familiar hymns. Norman and Alice loved to dance and could be seen waltzing at many local dances. Norman was very involved in Dunn Center activities. He was a volunteer fireman for 25 years and served on the board as trustee at Normanna Lutheran Church. Norman retired in 1985, and he and Alice moved to Dickinson. Sadly, Alice became ill and entered into her heavenly home in February, 1986. While in Dickinson, Norman was active in many senior activities. He enjoyed bowling and also volunteered for R. S. V. P. (a retired volunteer group), working mainly at the county museum. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. In October, 2007, Norman became a resident of Evergreen in Dickinson for one year and then moved to a senior facility, Edgewood Vista, Fargo, ND, in 2009, where he was a resident of Glenn’s Place. After a long journey with Alzheimer’s, Norman entered his heavenly home on September 12 under the compassionate care of the staff at Glenn’s Place and Hospice of the Red River Valley.


Norman was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, parents Lewis and Mary, brother Morris and sister Lillian Bergan and their spouses. Survivors include five children: Maureen Van Camp of Lafayette, CO; Francine Gustafson (Roger) of Chaska, MN; Neil (Jeane) of South Jordan, UT; Loran (Valerie) of Audubon, MN; and Steven (Kathy) of Foresthill, CA; and a sister, Ruth (Clayton) Johnsen of Dickinson. He was proud of his eleven grandchildren and enjoyed hearing of their activities. He was blessed with seven great-grandchildren. Other survivors are his special friend Marie Kaiser of Dickinson, four nieces and five nephews and their families.


In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association of ND or the Dunn Center Cemetery Fund.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: September 21, 2012
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Friday: Normanna Lutheran Church, Dunn Center, ND