Richard Norman Knudsen

Richard Norman Knudsen, 80, of Joseph, died Oct. 8 at Richland, Wash.

Funeral services will begin at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Enterprise LDS Chapel, 900 E. Greenwood in Enterprise and at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sherwood LDS Chapel, 17234 SW Meinecke Road in Sherwood. There will be a viewing prior to the funeral service from 11 a.m. to noon in Enterprise and from 9 to 10 a.m. in Sherwood. Burial will be at the Oceanview Cemetery in Warrenton. Bollman Funeral Home of Enterprise is in charge of arrangements.

He was born Nov. 10, 1928, to August Fritzof Knudsen and Marguerite Avis Blair Knudsen in Portland. He married Sarah Ellen Wheatley Oct. 14, 1950, in Portland.

Following graduation in 1946 from Franklin High School in Portland, Richard began his service as an electronics technician in the U.S. Navy and served again during the Korean conflict.

After his military service, Richard began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration in 1959, and continued with the FAA until his retirement in 1986.

During his career with the FAA he moved his family to Albuquerque, N.M.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Wendover, Utah; Klamath Falls; Eugene; and then back to the Portland area where he lived and worked until his retirement. In 1998, Richard and Sarah moved to Joseph.

While in Wendover, Richard and his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was an active member of the LDS Church until his death, and he served in many callings in the church including: Bishop, High Councilor and Temple Ordinance Worker. He and Sarah served a full-time mission for the church to Tanzania in East Africa from 1993 to 1995. Those who knew him say he was always pleased to serve others.

Surviving family members include Richard's brother, Donald and his wife, Ruby Knudsen, of Cathlamet, Wash.; Richard's beloved companion of 59 years, Sarah; one daughter, Karen Ann and her husband, Lee Dowdle, of Sandpoint, Idaho; three sons, Mikel and his wife, Karen Knudsen, of Brenham, Texas, Bruce and his wife, Vanessa Knudsen of St. George, Utah, and Craig and his wife, Teresa Knudsen of Warren; 25 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren, with two more great-grandchildren expected soon. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Cathy Ann; and two grandsons, Peter and Steven Dowdle.

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