The funeral service for Clare K. Knutson will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Oakland Lutheran Church. The Rev. Katie Fick will officiate. Interment will be in the Oakland Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea.

Clare Knutson passed away on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Thorne Crest Retirement Community. He was 90 years old.

Clare was born on July 1, 1922, to Peter and Olava (Bridley) Knutson. He graduated from Albert Lea High School and was a Freeborn County resident all of his life. On Oct. 22, 1944, he was united in marriage to Mavis Ringstad at Oakland Lutheran Church. Together they lived on the family farm and raised five children.

He was a dairy farmer who raised purebred milking shorthorn cattle, and was a collector of coins, plates and books. He belonged to Oakland Lutheran Church where he was heavily involved. He held the treasurer and president positions and was on the council and the building committee. He was a board member of the Hayward Co-op Elevator, member of the Freeborn County Planning Commission, and was appointed by Gov. Rudy Perpich as a farm arbitrator.

Clare developed Alzheimer’s disease early in life. His generous and giving personality lead him to participate in studies and treatments for the disease and in the Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Rochester. Even after death, Clare is still giving. He was a well respected man who loved teaching his children and grandchildren about the Lord.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mavis; siblings, Vernon, Ione and Paul; and great-grandchildren, Daniel, Michael and Vanessa.

Clare is survived by his children, Corwyn Knutson of Roseville, Paul Knutson of Northfield, Alan Knutson of Somerset, Wis., Ross (Joanne) Knutson of Albert Lea, and Jean Hanson of Hayward; grandchildren, Brandon (Jodi) Knutson, Aric (Nikky) Knutson, Jacob Knutson, Renae (Nick) Axt, Joseph Knutson, Adam Knutson, Alicia Knutson, and Jessica (Ryan) Brandt; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Pauline (Darrol) Sponberg of New Richland, and Elaine Buley of Le Sueur; nieces and nephews; and other loving relatives and friends.

Clare will be loved and missed. Blessed be his memory.