Donald A. Knutson

Donald A. Knutson age 81 of Detroit Lakes, MN died May 2, 2017 at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit Lakes, MN. Donald Alan Knutson was born August 6, 1935 in Fergus Falls, MN to Clarence and Mabel (Thom) Knutson. He grew up and attended school in Fergus Falls, graduating from Fergus Falls High School in 1955.He then served in the United States Air Force from 1955 1959. Following his discharge from the Air Force he worked for Downer Aircraft in Alexandria, MN. On March 19 1960 he was united in marriage to Marion Johnson in Elbow Lake, MN. They made their home in Riverside, CA, where Donald worked as a Service Technician for Sears. They moved back to Fergus Falls in 1963. While in Fergus Falls he worked for Hintgen-Karst, Sears, and Fergus Falls Plumbing and Heating. They moved to Detroit Lakes in 1972. He worked for Lakes Plumbing and Heating until he joined the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in 1975. He retired in 1998. Donald enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, and gardening. He also enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Marion; three daughters, Teresa Neises, of Henderson, NV; Rebecca (Eric) Johnson, of Henderson, NV; and Karen (Kelly) Schwarzrock, of Frazee, MN; one son, James (Cheryl) Knutson, of Pasadena, MD; ten grandchildren, Christopher, Nicholas, Justin, Ben, Marie, Nathaniel, Angela, James, Samantha, and Sara.; eighteen great grandchildren; his mother, Mabel Knutson, of Fergus Falls, MN; one brother, Gerald Knutson, of Fergus Falls, MN; one sister, Christine (Gerald) Peterson, of Fergus Falls, MN; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Knutson; sister in law, Charlotte Knutson; and son in law, Robert Neises Jr.