Donny and Judy Knutson have been a part of the Becker landscape for a very long time! Both were born and raised within just a few miles of Becker and have lived in the area their entire lives. Donald is the son of Phillip and Margaret Knutson and Judy is the daughter of Clarence and Grace Olson.
The pair met while in school in Becker when class sizes were under 20 (as opposed to 215 in 2018). Donny and Judy were married in December of 1957. Becker has grown a great deal and seen many changes since the couple said “I do”.
The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage in December of 2017. They were blessed with five children: Doug, Bev, Abby, Nancy and Phillip. They have 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
I sat down earlier this week for a lunchtime visit with Donny and Judy at their welcoming rambler on 10 acres a few minutes north of Becker. Much like my own family, they raised a fairly large family in an average sized home. I believe that growing up in an average sized home with many siblings taught us how to work together and be flexible. Despite challenges with space and logistics, I feel it helped build character and caused us to form closer relationships with our siblings. When my friends would ask where our other bathroom was, I directed them to the outhouse. The good news is the outhouse was not two stories.
It was fun to chat with Donny and Judy. They are bubbly and upbeat. They smile a lot and it’s contagious.
Donny and Judy come from excellent stock and marvelous families. My siblings and I went to school with many of their children and have considered the Olsons and Knutsons friends as long as I can remember. Judy’s dad (Clarence Olson) was one of my dad’s favorite people. My mom considered Judy’s mother (Grace) a good friend and also worked with Grace at Monticello Hospital in the kitchen in the 1960’s.
Donny worked for Anderson Gilyard while in high school and then spent 34 years working for Sherburne County operating heavy equipment. After retiring (five times according to Judy), Donny enjoyed working for R.L. Larson and later for M.L. Schendzielos. Donny is truly retired now and enjoys time working in his shop(s) at home restoring tractors and tinkering in one of his two shops (grease shop and wood shop).
Judy worked as a custodian at Becker Schools for a time. She explained how much she enjoyed working at Bob and Judy’s Farm Market. “I loved working with the flowers and plants,” Judy told me. Judy also did a fair amount of sewing. It was widely known around Becker that Judy was an excellent seamstress. She altered a lovely purple satin mother of the bride dress for my mother in the 1980’s for my sister Gloria’s wedding. She did a great job. Judy always laughs when I bring up the purple dress!
Donny and Judy remain very active. The day I visited, Donny and Judy had already enjoyed their daily walk, despite the frigid Minnesota winter temperatures. Judy has gone on long daily walks (four or more miles) her entire life and Donny wallks regularly, as well. Judy laughed as she explained that Donny’s pace is more of a run than a walk! For that reason, they walk at different times.
Donny visited briefly when he took a lunch break from repairing the radiator on one of several tractors they own. He lamented how much more convenient it would have been for the radiator to need fixing when the temperatures soared above zero.
They own a cabin near Longville and enjoy fishing and spending time there year-round. Donny told me: “There’s always something to fix up there, too!” Their daughter Nancy Lorentz and her husband Troy own Little Boy Resort near Longville.
The couple has enjoyed taking several trips together, inlcuding what they describe as a trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. They also enjoyed many bus trips over the years with Laverne’s Travel. They enjoyed a couple trips to Nashville and a couple trips to Branson and many other fun bus trips. It’s obvious they love spending time together.
When asked the secret to so many years of wedded bliss, Donny’s reply was: “YES, DEAR!”
Judy has taken many trips with her daughters over the years. Judy smiled as she reminisced about trips taken with her daughters, as well as an annual North Dakota getaway Judy enjoyed for over thirty years visiting her aunt Leona in Dickinson, ND. The annual girls getaway usually included Judy and several of her cousins and aunts: Ann Marie Simonsmeier, Wanda Russin, Arlene Johnson and Ethel Lindquist.
Donny and Judy clearly enjoy spending time with each other and are still very much in love. They are a great example of love and marriage!
