Steven A. Knutson

Longtime Soldotna resident, Steven A. Knutson, 61, died Dec. 2 at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday at the VFW Post 10046, 134 Birch Lane in Soldotna. Military honors will be performed by the VFW Post 10046 and the American Legion Post 20. A gathering will immediately follow the services at the post. His ashes will be scattered in Fertile, Minn., at a later date.

Mr. Knutson was born Feb. 7, 1948 to Kerwin and Myrtle (Erickson) Knutson in Fertile. He graduated from Butte High School in Butte, Mont., and furthered his education by attending two years of college at University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Mr. Knutson joined the Air Force in 1967 and had served two terms until he was honorably discharged in 1978. He was stationed at Eielson AFB from 1972 to 1978 after which time he moved to Sitka in 1980 and worked for the Forest Service. Mr. Knutson lived in Delta Junction from 1981 to 1985 when he began his career as an Alaska State Trooper Fish and Wildlife Protection Officer from which he retired in Soldotna in 1998. Mr. Knutson lived in Ketchikan from 1985 to 1990. He then moved to Anchorage until 1995 when he moved to Soldotna where he has resided ever since. Mr. Knutson was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He often stated as an Alaska State Trooper, “It takes one to catch one.”

“Steven was a loving husband, avid sportsman, author of three books and loved his grandchildren. He would give his friends the shirt off his back and never expected anything in return. He proudly served in the armed forces and was proud to be a part of the Alaska State Troopers,” wrote the family.

Mr. Knutson was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Shirley S. Knutson of Soldotna; mother, Myrtle Knutson of Olympia, Wash.; sisters, Susan Alderman of Florida, Linda Knutson of Washington and Nancy Knutson of Washington; brother, John Knutson of Wasilla; sons, Richard Knutson of Wasilla, and Theodore Knutson of Soldotna; and daughter, Eva Knutson of Soldotna.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family C/O Richard Knutson, HC31 Box 5175F, Wasilla, AK 99654.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.