Helen Knutson Obituary

Helen Eleanor (Turmo) Knutson, McVille ND, passed away on July 6, 2025 at the Nelson County Health Systems Care Center. Helen was born on August 31, 1938 in New England ND to Reverend Carl and Gladys (Sorenson) Turmo. As the daughter of a Lutheran Pastor, Helen moved several times during her early years, first to Walcott ND, then Maddock ND, Fargo ND, and Hawley MN. Helen enjoyed summers spent in Minnesota at the family’s cabin on Lake Lida. After graduation from High School in Hawley in 1956, Helen attended the Lutheran Bible Institute (LBI) in Minneapolis MN. While at LBI, Helen met fellow student Robert Knutson. Following LBI, Helen attended college in Valley City for one year before she and Robert were married in 1958. Helen and Robert moved to rural McVille to a small house along the Sheyenne River where their children Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Kathleen spent their early childhood. In 1966, they moved to the farmstead where they lived for over 50 years and where their family was made complete with the birth of their son Paul. Helen cared deeply for her family and used every opportunity to teach her children to appreciate the beauty found in nature, to think the best of others, and to act with kindness. She quietly witnessed her Christian faith, often through her actions rather than her words. While Helen loved her life in rural North Dakota, she also enjoyed traveling and learning more about other cultures, history, and art. She was an avid reader. Helen loved children and children loved Helen, most especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her husband Robert; daughter Elizabeth and her husband Jeff Kroke, their son Phillip Kroke, their daughter Kaia and her husband Zach Gordon and their children Roscoe, Oliver, Eleanor, and Jonathan (Jack); daughter Kathleen and her husband David Bandy, their children Jedidiah, Lily, and Tabitha; son Paul Knutson and his wife Jen, and their children Tessa and Ross. Helen is also survived by her sister Mary and her husband Robert Thompson, her brother Francis Turmo and his wife Linda, and her brother David Turmo and his wife Hazel, and her nieces and nephews Sara, Kristi, Daniel, Jill, Stephen, Scott, Rebecca, Steve, Joel, Heather, Mayme, Tony, Allean, Eric, Nicole, LynnEtte, and Melodie.

Helen was preceded in death by her son, Jonathan, her parents, Rev Carl and Gladys Turmo, her in-laws Rev Alfred and Hazel Knutson, her sisters and brothers-in law Viviann and Stanley Christenson and Esther and Lowell Barnum.

Visitation will begin at 3pm on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at the New Luther Valley Lutheran Church in McVille, with a service of prayer and to celebrate Helen’s life at 4pm. Her funeral service will be held at 2pm on Monday, July 14, 2025 at the New Luther Valley Lutheran Church in McVille with burial to follow at the New Luther Valley Cemetery.