Ralph Knutson 05/27/2011

On May 27, 2011, Ralph C. Knutson died peacefully at the St. Croix Health Center.  Ralph was born April 2, 1925 in Alden Township, Polk County, Wisconsin, to Ole and Anna (Johnson) Knutson.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at West Immanuel Church in rural Osceola.  He attended Cedar Lake School.  As a young man he worked on farms until he bought his first truck and followed the harvest in North Dakota.  He worked at the St. Croix County Farm and later for Relander farms.  He operated a cattle trucking business for ten years.  Ralph worked for Blue Ribbon Feed and Farmer’s Union.  He was custodian at New Richmond Schools for fifteen years.  On August 1, 1954 he married Janet Wenstad of Star Prairie, Wisconsin.  To this union, three daughters were born; Judy Leichssenring of Emmaus, PA, Jane Hansen of New Richmond, and Rachael Marrier of Star Prairie.  In retirement he enjoyed travels throughout the US in addition to Norway and Germany.  He especially enjoyed the trips to Hawaii.  Preceding Ralph in death were his parents, Ole and Anna Knutson; sisters, Olive (Steve) Osborne and Doris (Franklin) Priem; and brother, Wayne (Louise) Knutson.  Ralph is survived by his wife, Janet (Wenstad) Knutson; daughters, Judy (Scott) Leichssenring, Jane (Daniel) Hansen, and Rachael (Andrew) Marrier; grandchildren, Margaret (Peter) Westmoreland, Matthew Hansen, Chloe Marrier, and Derek Marrier; great-grandchildren, Gunnar and Greta Westmoreland; sisters, Jane (Harry) Gustafson of St. Paul, MN and Rose (Robert) Leary of Roberts, WI; brothers, Lloyd Knutson of Osceola and James Knutson of Star Prairie; and many nieces and nephews.  A Funeral service was held Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 1:30 pm at the New Richmond United Methodist Church.  Visitation was on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 from 5-8 pm at Bakken-Young’s Beebe Mortuary in New Richmond and on Wednesday from 12-1:30 pm at the church.  Pallbearers were David Jensen, David Kruschke, Matthew Hansen, Peter Westmoreland, Wayne Frederickson and Dale Knutson.  Interment will be in West Immanuel Cemetery in July.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Croix Health Center, Grace Place, the Salvation Army, or the United Methodist Church.  Arrangements were with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of New Richmond.