Townley "Toby" Knutson

Townley "Toby" Richard Knutson, 67, of Fargo, ND, went home to be with Jesus on December 23, 2015, due to complications that arose during recovery from surgery after a heart attack. He was born on March 16, 1948, to Theodore and Inga Knutson of rural Kenmare, ND. One of sixteen children reared on a busy farmstead near the Canadian border, Toby grew up working on the farm, playing high school sports, and learning about Jesus from the Bible teaching and example of his godly parents.

Toby graduated from Kenmare High School in 1966 and later from Minot State College with a degree in Economics. While at Minot State, he met his future bride, Donna Jean Frydenlund, and they married on March 22, 1969. Their honeymoon included a move out to Bellingham, WA, where they lived for a time and their first child, Cammy, was born on March 9, 1970. That summer, Toby and Donna moved back to Minot, ND, where their daughter, Wendy, was born in 1973. Toby received the free gift of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 1979, which transformed him and guided his life from that day forward.

Toby held several positions in the financial industry, including Loan Officer with Town & Country Credit Union, Ag Loan Officer at Production Credit Association (later Farm Credit Services), President of Prairie Federal Credit Union (formerly Tran Em Credit Union), and Internal Auditor for Farm Credit Services of NW ND. His true passion was spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which he did faithfully wherever he went. Toby thoroughly enjoyed reaching out to people through nursing home ministries, door-to-door evangelism, and preaching the Word of God. Retirement years provided opportunities to pursue his hobby of painting with acrylics, and his beautiful pictures adorn the houses of many family and friends.

Toby is survived by his wife, Donna Knutson; daughters Cammy (Mark) Dahl, Climax, MN, and Wendy (Mark) Creekmur, Marshalltown, IA; grandchildren, Andrew (Chelsey Wentz) Dahl, Grand Forks, ND, Isaac (Jacklynn) Dahl, Fertile, MN, Levi Dahl and Titus Dahl, Climax, Cheyenne Friest and Cale Friest, Marshalltown; great-grandchildren, Leam Dahl and Wyatt Dahl, Fertile, and Aiden Dahl, Grand Forks; siblings, Inez Christensen, Los Alamos, NM, Norma Boyum, Havre, MT, Truel (Vivian) Knutson, Easley, SC, Tyler Knutson, Keenesburg, CO, Virginia (Gerry) Taylor, Santa Fe, NM, Tony (Virginia) Knutson, Ferndale, WA, Truman (Marilyn) Knutson, Soldotna, AK, and Lolly Knutson, Lake Havasu, AZ; Toby was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Dagny Herigstad, Theodore "Raymond" Knutson, Terry Knutson, Liseley Pederson, Thomas Knutson, Timothy Knutson, and Trent Knutson.

Visitation will be from 1 - 2 PM, followed by the funeral at 2 PM, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Fargo.

Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Minot, ND, at 1 PM, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015.

Memorials may be designated for Bearing Precious Seed (KJV Bible literature printer and distributor) or Heaven 88.7 FM Christian Radio, Fargo.