Leonard Knudsen

Leonard Lyle Knudsen, 65, of Coram passed away at home Jan. 6, 2009, into the arms of his father in Heaven and greeted with joy by his mom and dad and two brothers.

He was born Aug. 1, 1943 in Alameda, Calif., to Lyle and Elizabeth Knudsen, the third of nine children.  Leonard loved the Flathead from the day he arrived in 1953 and spent the better part of his life there, attending Hungry Horse Grade School and Columbia Falls High School, where he graduated in 1961.

Leonard was stricken with polio when he was 4 years old. Through the years he cast aside his disabilities and lived a normal life. He married, raised three children and worked hard all of his life for the Great Northern Railway, later the Burlington Northern. He was well known for his mechanical abilities and loved stock car racing. If you were around the Flathead in the 1960s you probably saw him cruising the highways of the Flathead County in his ‘34 Ford Roadster looking for a race, dispatching most comers at will.

Leonard leaves his wife of many years, Mary Lynn; sons Darrin (Crystal) and David (Tiffany); daughter Kerry Lynn (Trevor); and four grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers John of Helena, Bill of Monroe and Daniel of Kalispell; sisters Virginia Brazill of Seattle, Wash., Betty Jeanne Notbohm of Clancy and Peggy Carmack of Washougal, Wash.; numerous nieces and nephews; and friends too many to count.

He was preceded in death by brothers Milton (Sandy), a basketball legend in Columbia Falls in the 50s; brother Michael; and parents Lyle Knudsen and Elizabeth Anderson.

Cremation has taken place, and a small family service was held. Leonard was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A reunion of Leonard’s family will be held in August 2009 on his birthday to celebrate his life, in the Flathead which he loved. Your pain is gone, your body is renewed, you can be happy again. We love you. Bro Bill.