Jerome Knutson

Jerome "Jerry" Knutson, 84, a resident of Crookston, MN passed away on November 22, 2025, at his home.

Jerome was born on March 23, 1941, in Centerville, South Dakota, the son of Lauren and Bernice (Dwyer) Knutson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, grew up in rural South Dakota, and graduated from Centerville High School in 1959. He attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963. In 1964 he received his Master of Science Education degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Then he taught high school biology in Wayne Nebraska, for three years; and he was a biology laboratory assistant while pursuing his Ph.D. at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan from 1967-1969.

He married Mary Lynne Swiden in Sioux Falls, SD in 1968, and they were blessed with two daughters, Jill and Janna. In the fall of 1969, he joined the biology faculty at the University of Minnesota-Crookston and taught students for 35 years. During his tenure at UMC, he also taught health science students at Northland Technical College in East Grand Forks, MN. For 27 years his summers were spent as a teacher and later director of the Crookston Migrant School for children of local Hispanic migrant sugar beet workers. In 1980, he accepted a United Kingdom Reciprocal Exchange opportunity and brought his family to England where he taught at Berkshire College of Agriculture.

He will be remembered by many for his notes/expressions of appreciation, congratulations, and support extended to family, friends, and students. He was grateful, humbled, and honored by acknowledgements he received including Outstanding Biology Teacher Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers (1976); Partners in Education award from Crookston School District (2003); Amy Hirst Volunteer Award from Polk County Independent Republicans (1992); Distinguished Teacher Award (1990); and Torch and Shield Award from the University of Minnesota (2004); Ox Cart Award from the City of Crookston (1977); 25 years of Service Award from the MN Migrant Education Program (1993); UMC Homecoming Parade Marshal selection by UMC Alumni Association (2006); Demonstration of Excellence in Technical Education medal from EGF Technical Institute (2001); and several awards from UMC students including Booster of the Year (1978), Most Supportive of Students (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004), Outstanding Teacher (1977, 2001), Outstanding Contributions to International Students (1983), Creative Use of Technology (2003), Builder of Diversity Award (2004), and most recently the University of Minnesota Presidents Award for Outstanding Service (2024).

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, UMC Teambackers, and the Crookston Collector's Club; and he was a supporter of the Golden Link Senior Center, Crookston Pirates Fine Arts, Crookston Music League, and Crookston Community Theater. Some of his favorite leisure time activities included photography, painting, playing piano, traveling in the winter, caring for his flower gardens, and entertaining friends. He was a kind father and grandfather who encouraged his family to be optimistic and look for the good in others. He will be greatly missed for his incredible kindness, always choosing joy, and heart of gold.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lynne; his parents Lauren and Bernice; and wife's parents Alick and Mildred Swiden.

He is survived by his two daughters; Jill (David) Keppers, and Janna (Sam) Fischer, four grandsons; Alexander, Jonathan, Sev, and Viggo, brother; Leroy (Judy) Knutson, sister; LaVonne Isaak, brothers-in-law; LaDell (Phyllis) Swiden and Mike (Teresa) Swiden, sisters-in-law; Linda (Ray) Harris and LaVonne (Fred) Lorenzen; several nieces and nephews; UMC graduates; and friends in the USA, Canada, and England.

Funeral services will be held on Monday December 1st at Trinity Lutheran Church, Crookston, MN at 1:00pm. Visitation starting at 11:30am.

His daughters could not walk down the street without someone stopping them and telling them that Jerry was the best teacher they ever had. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if donations were made to the newly created Jerry Knutson Biology and Health Sciences Scholarship at the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
(checks payable to U of M Foundation, with Jerry Knutson Scholarship in the memo line.)