Vivian Knutson, 84, Dunn Center, passed peacefully from the presence of her family into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, December 4, 2009 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson, as the result of a hemorrhagic stroke. Vivian’s funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at Living Word Fellowship Church, on the corner of States Ave. and 15th St. West, Dickinson, with Rev. Tim Voth officiating. Interment will follow at the Dunn Center Cemetery, Dunn Center at approx. 1:15 p.m., with fellowship to follow at Normanna Lutheran Church, Dunn Center. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service, with Rev. Arne Bergland presiding.
Vivian Rayma Marian Morrell was born November 14, 1925, in the hip-roofed house on her grandfather’s homestead, the MO Ranch south of Dunn Center. She was the youngest daughter of Earl F. and Clarissa (Evenson) Morrell.
Vivian began her formal education at the West Renville School. She attended higher grades and graduated from the 8th grade at the East Renville School. She thoroughly enjoyed riding her horse, Snip, to and from school and had other horses throughout her youth including Fleet and Coalie. Part of her was a daring tomboy who was thrilled to be her dad’s farm/ranch helper. She loved trailing cattle to and from her father’s homestead in the Little Missouri Badlands. She loved to reminisce about her youth and especially enjoyed growing up with her Kling cousins.
Vivian attended high school in Dunn Center. She was privileged take a trip to Bismarck with teacher Nila Marx, where they attended a Young Citizen’s conference–Mrs. Marx even let her drive! Vivian graduated from Dunn Center High School in 1943 and in the late fall boarded the Dunn Center train, “the Goose,” and traveled to Fargo to attend Dakota Business College. She attended in spurts, in between being her father’s hired man for spring’s work through harvest, graduating in early 1946. She worked at Fargo Iron & Metal, Fargo, and later worked in Dunn Center.
She had begun dating Gilman Knutson during high school, when he needed a date for a teenage group function and he didn’t know who else to ask! The couple was married October 26, 1947 at Normanna Lutheran Church, Dunn Center. They lived in Dunn Center, then at the MO Ranch, and eventually settled on a ranch on the edge of Dunn Center.
Vivian suffered through numerous miscarriages. She and Gilman felt incredibly blessed to eventually have four living children, three lovingly chosen and one born on the wings of prayer. They enjoyed loving and praying for more than a dozen Godchildren through the years.
Vivian had a heart as big as Dunn County and spent most of her life serving her family and others. She loved family trips, camping at Voigt’s Bay, her father’s cabin at Lake Ilo, family reunions, history, holidays and picnics. She pursued her passions with gusto and will be remembered for growing cherry tomatoes year-round, baking delicious buns and taking photos of everyone and everything that touched her heart. She enjoyed studying God’s Word, was an avid Christian-radio listener and freely shared her faith with anyone. She loved half cups of hot, hot coffee and the challenge of serving good, hot meals to horseback riders moving cattle to or from the Badlands.
In recent years she thoroughly enjoyed her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her cat, Annie, and was blessed to have numerous dear, loyal friends who supported her through life’s trials.
She was an avid supporter of her family, community and worthy causes. In years past she was active in the Emerson Homemakers, North Dakota Mental Health Association and Dunn County Cancer Support Group. She was very active in Normanna Lutheran Church, including as a Luther League advisor and dedicated WELCA member, the Dunn County Historical Society, particularly the Museum Committee, participated in Stonecroft Bible Studies and numerous other organizations.
Those who will miss her include her children and their spouses: Greg (Susan) Knutson, Dickinson, Elayne (Bernel) Appledoorn, Gladstone, Jim (Diane) Knutson, Dickinson, and Colette “Koko” (Casey) Gjermundson, Marshall; seven grandchildren, Jaime Gietzen, Killdeer, Chance Appledoorn, Kailey Appledoorn, Destinee Knutson, Danielle Knutson, all of Dickinson, Kazanne Gjermundson and Chesney Gjermundson, both of Marshall; and four great-grandchildren: Sirena, Kaidence, Makiah and Kade; one sister, Fran Werre Wahpeton, one brother-in-law, Rueben (Phyllis) Knutson, and one sister-in-law, Bethol Knutson, all of Killdeer, numerous nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends and neighbors.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two infant sisters, her husband, Gilman, in 1989, numerous miscarried infants, an infant daughter Mary Rae and a granddaughter, Jasmine Gjermundson.
