Lyle Palmer Knutson

Lyle Palmer Knutson passed away May 24, 2017 at the age of 87.  The fifth of seven children, he was born on December 6, 1929, in Wenatchee, WA, to Palmer and Elsa Knutson.  He attended Wenatchee High School, dropping out after his junior year to help support the family when his father was injured at work.  He followed in his father’s footsteps, starting work with Great Northern Railroad in 1947.  He joined the Army in 1951, and worked in supply at Camp Carson, CO.  He returned to Wenatchee after his military service, where he met his wife, Gayle, through mutual friends; they married on July 24, 1954.  The couple moved to Spokane in 1955, where they raised five children in a home Lyle built in 1967-68 with the assistance of Gayle's father northeast of town in (then) a very rural part of the county.  In 1992, Lyle retired as an engineer from Burlington Northern Railroad.  During his life, Lyle enjoyed countless hours watching his children's and grandchildren's sports, drama and music activities. He liked to travel, and while he enjoyed Alaskan and other cruises with Gayle, his ultimate trip was an African photo safari in 1999. He is preceded in death by his parents, Palmer and Elsa Knutson; sisters Marion Knutson, Eunice Knutson and Alice Knutson; brother Arthur Knutson; daughter Julia Florin; and great-granddaughter Kylee Knutson.  He is survived by his loving wife Gayle Knutson; daughters Joanna Knutson, Beth Roe (Dan); sons Barry Knutson (Tracy) and Ken Knutson (Jana); sister Lola Gill (Everett) and brother Robert Knutson (Carol); 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  At Lyle’s request, no service will be held.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Lyle be honored with donations sent to the Alzheimer’s Association in his memory. 

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