Walter (nmn) Knudsen and Helen Margaret Kesner married September 13, 1929. After the birth of their first son, Willard James, they left South Dakota and started their journey west. They lived in a tent along the Yellowstone River in Montana. The depression was on, jobs were in short supply. Walter got a job on a ranch near Reedpoint, Mt and they lived in a line shack. Levi Paul, Christine Mercedes, and Holly Marie were added to the family. They then moved a short distance to Nye. When it came time for Mom to deliver again, Dad took her to the hospital in Columbus where twin girls were born shortly after midnight on Dec 22, 1935. Twin "A" lived 2 minutes and twin "B" lived 10 minutes. They were buried that same day in the Nye Cemetery. The family packed up and moved to Whitman Co., Eastern Washington where Walter (who was known as "Shorty" ) found employment on wheat ranches, first near Thorton, St. John and Endicott. Andy, Joyce and Jean were added to the family. They bought a house in Sunset for the price of back taxes. Walter Douglas who died shortly after birth and then Judy rounded out the 8 surviving children of the couple. Walter worked for a time as a gandy dancer on the railroad then became self-employed as a painter, wall paper hanger contractor and carpenter.  Life was tough but happy for the Knudsen family who will always remember the rolling hills of the Palouse Country as home, especially the quiet sleepy town of Sunset... the house they left behind fell into ruins and was eventually torn down.  As with many small rural towns across the country, Sunset is only a shadow of what it once was, and it's sad to drive through and not see a dozen kids out in a pasture playing baseball. 

Jean, Joyce, Judy

Willard 'Jim'

A Sunday School Class

 

 

A trip to Portland

Andy, Margaret, Walter, Levi, Lyle & Lola Hodge, Chris , Ray Knudsen, Joyce, ? Jean, Roger, Gary, Judy, Marsha,

 

Lola Hodge, Grandma Knudsen Judy Knudsen & Scottie

Sunset home 1960

Walter & Margaret 1980

 

 

Descendants of Walter and Margaret

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Willard James Knudsen + Jennie Lou Cossins

   Sheri Lynn Knudsen + Richard Gene Bradley + [2]

      Michael Bradley + Jackie

   Terri Ann Knudsen + [3] Darin Kuntupis

   Walter Charles Knudsen + Shannon Chelf

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Levi Paul Knudsen + Carolyn Ellis (d) + [2] Opal Ruth Polley 18 Sep 1930 Bloomington, Monroe, IN - 17 Jun 2003 Ridgefield, Clark, WA

   Sonya Renee Knudsen + Raymond Crop + [2] Dean Seward + [3] Randy Lee Patterson, Sr.

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Christina Mercedes Knudsen 4 Aug 1933 Reed Point, Stillwater, MT - 25 Sep 2006 Coeur d Alene, Kootney, ID  + Lyle Hodge  [2] Ellis Llody Bryngleson  21 Aug 1926 ID - Apr 1972 Lewiston, Nez Perce, ID  + [3] Ronald Beamis 25 Sep 1934 Longview, Cowlitz, WA - 3 Jun1992 Couer d Alene, Kootney, ID

   Lola Diane Hodge + Jerry Royce Dixon + [2] Edward L Williams + [3] Loren Kennel

   Lyle Hodge Jr  1952 Colfax, Whitman, WA  -1952 St.John, Whitman, WA

   Diana Lynn Hodge 3 Feb 1955 Colfax, Whitman, WA - 8 Nov 1994 Yuma, Yuma, AZ + Robert Kelley  + [2] Travis Albert Hedglin

   Ronald Bryngleson + Ruby Stimson  [D]

      Ronald Bryngleson, Jr +

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Holly Marie Knudsen + Edward Everett Moore (D)

   Karla Jean Moore + William Hammer

   Edward Levi Moore + Anne R. Thieschafer [D]

      Edward Levi Moore, Jr +

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Andrew Duane Knudsen + Pauline Anne Duncan  17 Nov 1940 Port Angeles, Clallam, WA - 8 Mar 2007 Port Angeles, Clallam, WA

   Douglas Ray Knudsen + Traci Mindock [D] + Susanna Shornick [D] + [3] Brandi Tyree Siver

      Christopher Lee Knudsen 

   Mark Alan Knudsen + Anette M. Rock [D] + [2]  Mary A. Brus [D] + [3] Teri L. Lohfink

       Alyssa Knudsen 

       Cody Jordon Knudsen

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   Clifton Dwight Barnes III + Robin Paris 18 Jun 1962 CA - 2008 Spokane, Spokane, WA

   Royce Paul Barnes + Keitha Williams [D]

   Tina Barnes + Robert West [D]

       Ryan West

   Chastity Barnes + Donovan Sevier [D]

       Donovan Sevier

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Wanda Jean Knudsen + John Thomas Stone (D) [2] James Gordon Schmidt 4 Jun 1939- 24 Feb 1976  + [3] Richard Donald Carpenter

   John Eugen Stone + Valerie L. Wills [D] +  Jill L. Gross Walls  [D]  + [3] Jonelle Chafin Mustard

      Dawnyl Stone + Nick Porter

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Judy Mae Knudsen + Wesley Michael Thomson  15 Apr 1939 Colville, Stevens, WA - 1 Apr 2002, Moses Lake, Grant, WA

   David Michael Thomson + Michelle Gilroy Vaches [D]

      Kirsten Michelle Thomson d/o Tracy Messler

      Alyssa? Thomson  d/o Antionette Bogart

   Monte Alan Thomson +  Karrie L. Sundell [D]

      Monte Alan Thomson, Jr

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