A memorial service for Richard Knudson will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Sean Forde will officiate. Visitation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and again one hour prior to the service at the church. A private family burial will be taking place.

Richard Amos Duane Knudson, 81, of Albert Lea passed away Sunday, Feb 26, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.

Richard was born Oct. 4, 1935, in Albert Lea to parents Amos Knudson and Eva (Quisley) Knudson. He was a lifelong resident of Albert Lea. He graduated from Albert Lea Central High in 1954.

He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he met Rhoda Grace Scheibert. They married on Dec. 28, 1955. He left Luther College to help run Knudson Trucking and Excavating after the untimely death of his father in a construction accident, eventually becoming a heavy equipment operator with the 49ers. When asked what his occupation was he would reply, “I had the best job in the world, I got to play in a big sand box all day.”

Richard loved exploring backroads, camping and adventures with his wife, Rhoda, nature and time with family. He could be recognized by his tall stature and brimmed hat.

Survivors include his wife, Rhoda Grace; son, Peter, of Seattle; daughters Pam Linton (Rich) of West Salem, Wisconsin and Judy Gingerich (Dwight) of Oronoco; grandson, David (Jocelyn) Applebury of Spokane, Washington; granddaughter, Nicole (fiance, Seth Hubbard) Applebury of Becker; step-grandchildren Rory and Daron Linton; as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Beverly Sutton, of Albert Lea.

Rather than memorials, the family requests that  those who knew him do an act of kindness in his memory.