Dolores "Dorrie" Knutson

Dolores "Dorrie" Nadine Knutson, 78, of Grand Forks, ND, formerly of Devils Lake, ND, died on Friday, March 25, 2011, at Valley Memorial Home 4000 Valley Square - Woodside Village in Grand Forks. She was born on August 7, 1932 on her family farmstead in rural Lawton, ND, to Mathilda "Tillie" (Gehrke) and (John) Lloyd Johnson. Dorrie had one brother, Lyle Johnson, formerly of Grafton, ND. After her father's death in 1942, the family moved to Adams, ND. Dorrie graduated high school in 1950 and attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND. After graduation, Dorrie went to work at 1st National Bank in Grafton. On September 5th, 1954, Dorrie was united in marriage to Clinton P. Knutson at Mountain Lutheran Church in Adams. They moved to Devils Lake where Dorrie worked at Ramsey National Bank. On September 16th, 1956, Dorrie and Clinton welcomed their first daughter, Laurel Ann Knutson, born at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake. They moved to Adams. On October 3rd, 1958, Tammy LaRae Knutson was born at Deaconess Hospital in Grafton. They moved back to Devils Lake where Dorrie was a stay at home mother. On May 24, 1966, Mark Clinton Knutson was born at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake. Dorrie went to work at St. Olaf Lutheran Church as secretary for 12 years and then RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) as secretary. During her lifetime Dorrie enjoyed sewing, embroidery/crochet, gardening, baking, entertaining and she was an avid hockey fan. She was an active member at St. Olaf Lutheran Church (Ladies Aid, Circle and various volunteer activities), PTA, Brownies Leader, Royal Neighbors, VFW Auxiliary and Rebecca Lodge. As a proud grandmother, Dorrie loved following her grandchildren's activities such as hockey and dance. Dorrie was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd (1942) and Tillie Johnson (1980), Lloyd Erickson (stepfather), Lyle Johnson (brother) and Jennifer Knutson (daughter-in-law), and Janyce Johnson Haugen (sister-in-law). Dorrie is survived by her husband Clinton Knutson; daughters, Laurie Buresh (John), Vadnais Heights, MN, and Tammy Campbell (Bill), Grafton, ND; her son Mark Knutson, Santa Ana, CA; her grandchildren, Jon Campbell, St. Petersburg, FL, David Campbell, Fargo, ND, Alexander Buresh, St. Paul, MN, Paul Campbell, Grand Forks, Anna Buresh, Minneapolis, MN, and Matthew Knutson, Santa Ana, CA. We wish to thank the Altru Hospital staff on 3rd Floor East and the staff at Prairieview (Valley Memorial Homes). We appreciate your remarkable care and amazing compassion for mom and for our family.